In Memory of James Mathison

In Memory of James Mathison

James Mathison

Spouse: Flore Mathison
Birth Date: August 17, 1946
Blessing: July 1, 1982
Ascension Date: April 9, 2021

James Michael Christopher (Jim) Mathison passed peacefully at home in his sleep to his eternal life, April 9, 2021 after battling throat cancer for the last three years. Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Ralph and June (Laursen) Mathison. Jim is survived by his uncle Benny Laursen, his loving wife of nearly 39 years Flore Irene (Noel), Kathy Burke (John); Daniel Mathison (Ellen); Tom Mathison (Judy); and four beloved nieces and nephews.

Jim was the oldest of four and born on August 17, 1946, in the Longfellow neighborhood of South Minneapolis, Minnesota. His father was Protestant and his mother Catholic. Jim grew up in a loving family and loved his parents and siblings dearly his entire life. He loved to be outside in nature and to observe birds and animals. In his youth, he explored the world around him and would go fishing with friends at the nearby Mississippi River. Jim served as an altar boy, went to St. Joseph Catholic grade school and De LaSalle Catholic High School. After graduating from high school he joined the Navy and served his country in Vietnam. He returned to Minneapolis and majored in Sociology at the University of Minnesota. At the University he met Jean Pierre Gabriel who introduced him to the Divine Principle and the Unification Movement. He was so inspired by the vision and work of the movement that he joined and threw himself wholeheartedly into it. He was involved in many activities including campus outreach, fundraising, evangelism, teaching, and attended the Unification Theological Seminary (UTS). In much of the late ‘70s and ‘80s, Jim was a bus driver for the touring company Go Tours of New York. 

In 1979 Jim was introduced to his wife Flore Noel by Rev. and Mrs. Sun Myung Moon, founders of the Unification Movement. In 1982 they participated in the historic 2075 couple Marriage Blessing at Madison Square Garden, New York City. Like his parents who through their marriage bridged the religious divide between Catholic and Protestant, Jim and Flore, in their marriage, bridged the racial divide between black and white. Together Jim and Flore maintained their devout life of faith involving themselves in missionary activities as much as it was possible for them to do. On January 1, 1997, they took on the mission of National Messiah to Zaire (Congo) which was on the verge of civil war. Even with such an uncertain future Jim and Flore put their faith in God and went to their missionary country. After 19 months they returned to Minnesota. Jim drove a city bus in Minneapolis for many years. He loved music, was a good piano player, and faithful church choir member. Jim was always interested and active in the development of our local church and occasionally gave sermons. He loved to study and teach Divine Principle and was especially excited about teaching the Parallels of History. Jim told Flore that one of the nuns at St. Joseph Grade School told him that his confirmation name, Christopher, meant “bearer of Christ in heart”. Jim always remembered that and remained faithful to that name.

He will be remembered, revered, and missed by all who knew him.

Seonghwa Ceremony

Date: April 14, 2021
Time: 6:00 PM
Location: Minnesota Family Church by Zoom — https://zoom.us/j/508018905 (passcode: 2020)