James Leo Tatro

James Leo Tatro, 73 year old resident of Pierz, MN passed away Wednesday, December 7, 2022 at his home in Pierz, MN. A Celebration of Life Gathering will be held Sunday, December 11, 2022 from 1:00-4:00 P.M. at the St. Mathias Community Center in St. Mathias, MN. Jim's family requests no flowers be sent to the Celebration of Life, but if you would like to bring a message or photo memory to share with the family, that would be preferred. Caring for James and his family is the Shelley Funeral Chapel in Little Falls, MN. James Tatro was born July 31, 1949. He was an energetic, hardworking farmer with a positive outlook on life. The oldest of 4 sons, he farmed with his mother and father on the family farm. He loved deer hunting with his father and brothers who said “they never pull the trigger unless they have a dead shot.” Jim graduated from Little Falls High School in 1967. In 1969 he lost his arm in a farm accident, which did not slow him down. Especially after he got an artificial arm. Jim proved he could do more with one arm than most could do with two. He proved this the most when he worked with heavy equipment or was faced with any challenging work task. Jim dreamed of building his own farm, home, and barn. In 1969, he cut and sawed sturdy oak logs, took them to the sawmill, and had them sawed into lumber. He purchased 40 acres from his father, cleared the land, and started building. Over his lifetime, Jim accumulated over 300 acres where he built his farm and cultivated the land. Jim took incredible pride over his farm as a sacred place for his family. In 1971 he married Bonnie Thielen, who loved horses. Jim’s love for horses grew after Bonnie gave him an appaloosa mare she had raised and trained for him. In 1972, after purchasing Sully’s Pattern, a retired Sundance 500 foundation Stallion from Lee Warne from Onida, South Dakota, he began breeding and raising Appaloosa horses. In 1972 Jim began working at Camp Ripley in the state maintenance department. He continued this position through his retirement, after later becoming the Roads and Grounds Supervisor. Through these years, Jim was a member of the Sunset Riders Saddle Club of Little Falls. He participated in countless trail rides, parades, rodeos, fairs, and horseshows. He even participated in square dancing on horseback at the Little Boots Rodeo Shows. Jim and Bonnie’s marriage was blessed with 2 lovely daughters, Jody (1978) and Jenny (1982), who are carrying on Jim’s love for horses, training, showing, hunting and even using them for horse therapy. In December of 1979, a horseman from Australia came to the farm and purchased a 3-year-old stallion for their own breeding stock, making the first international sale from the barn, and putting the Tatro name on the map for quality Appaloosa bloodlines. In 1984 Jim met and married Christine Leaf who together were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Deanna (1986), and the adoption of his daughter, Tina Leaf (1976). In their union, they shared in raising their 4 daughters, Tina, Jody, Jenny, and Deanna. They spent much of their time as a family trail riding, working in the fields, harvesting wood, and caring for and having fun with their horses. Together, the family provided a place for others to learn and grow in their horsemanship and in their love of horses. Jim always found a way to make work fun, and he built a powerful foundation within all of his daughters to embrace the importance of family and hard work. Jim and Christine have continued to maintain their riding and horse farm, Rocking T Stables & Leather Shop, into their retirement years where their pride and joy stemmed from watching the enjoyment of their children and grandchildren enjoying their horses and property. Jim was a gifted craftsman and skilled woodsman. He had many hobbies related to building and creating leather crafts. He built his first saddle for his daughter Jody in 1994. From there, he created the Rocking T Leather Shop where countless projects, saddles, harnesses, bridles, and motorcycle apparel were built and repaired. In 2021, Jim retired after 50 years from working at Camp Ripley in roads and grounds as the head of the state maintenance department. Along the way, Jim helped many people, farmers, and horsemen. Many can say Jim helped them in some way or another. He would be the first person to plow your driveway, take down a tree, give advice, or just be a light to your darkness. Jim was always patient and willing to teach others the knowledge and skills he had for them to excel and be their best self. Most importantly, he believed in others, even if they did not. His children and grandchildren were the light of his life. He loved teaching them the ways of the farm, how to hunt, fish, and enjoy the true love of nature. He felt the most at home in the woods working and taking in God’s beauty and creation. Jim is survived by wife, Christine Tatro of Pierz, MN; daughters, Tina Cekalla of Brainerd, MN, Jody (Otto) Goldbach of Cody, WY, Jenny (Josh) Taylor of Cody, WY and Deanna (Nathan) Olson of Brainerd, MN; brothers, John (Lynn) Tatro of Little Falls, MN, Mike (Lynn) Tatro of Duluth, MN and Paul (Linda) Tatro of Pierz, MN; grandchildren, Emily Verbeck, Katie Mudgett, Dylan Cekalla, Olivia Goldbach, Adrienne Olson, Nolan Olson, Jax Taylor and Jhett Taylor; great-granddaughter, Harlyn Sypnieski and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, Raymond and Beverly Tatro.

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James Leo Tatro

July 31, 1949 - December 7, 2022