The Story of James Camp Bryan, Jr.

James Camp Bryan, Jr. was born to Ruth (Micky) Weir Bryan and James C. Bryan, Sr., on April 8, 1925.  His middle name came from a local minister's name that had been passed on for several generations.

His mother was diagnosed with tuberculosis when he was about 18 months. Jim was cared for by her sisters, several of whom were not married and doted on the toddler.  After Micky died, James Bryan Sr. married Ruth Fitch.

Jim Jr. lived between both households for a time but eventually moved in with his father and stepmother on Haskell Street, West St. Paul. They later bought a large house on Cherokee Ave. where he lived through his teen years attending Humboldt High School.

His first job was as a paper boy delivering the Pioneer Press over many miles of countryside.  He tried very hard to collect the subscription fees, which was challenging  in the 1930's, quickly learned diplomacy that paid off the rest of his life.

On the last day of high school, June 1943, he received his World War II draft notice to the Army, which meant foregoing his college education.  He spent time at Fort Riley, eventually choosing to be a pole lineman.  He always said the assignment kept him "too far forward to wear a tie and too far back to be shot."  Jim served in France and Germany setting up lines of communication.  After the war Jim was active in Veterans of Foreign Wars, West St. Paul Chapter.

Following the war, Jim returned to marry the love of his life, Elaine Wurst, a lovely maid who worked for neighbors and waited for his return.  Times were tough with so many men returning and few jobs.  They had one child, Jo Bryan, "cripe sakes."  To earn extra income Jim became a ticket-seller at the Minnesota State Fair and retired as captain of the Randall gate after 50 years.

As times improved, Jim was able to follow his father's footsteps as a railway mail clerk, sorting mail on trains traveling routes to Williston, SD and Winnipeg, Canada.  When mail was discontinued from the rails, he worked in the St. Paul Post Office.  He found his calling working as a postal union steward, eventually becoming the first president of the St. Paul Postal Workers Union.  He participated in the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly which brought him to the attention of St. Paul city government.  Jim served as Zoning Committee Chair for the East Side of St. Paul and eventually Mayor Latimer appointed him to several City committees.  One determined the route of I -35 through the city.

Jim was elected to the Board of Directors of the Postal Workers Credit Union (now Ideal Credit Union) in 1971 and served for 45 years, including two decades as Chairman.  He was very active in the credit union movement serving on local, state and national committees. "In 2016 Jim was inducted to the national Credit Union House Hall of
Leaders, Washington D. C., for the outstanding level of service he
provided to the credit union movement."

Jim and Elaine enjoyed many, many trips to Europe and most of the United States.  Trips to Ireland to visit the "relatives" were a highlight.  For many years Jim volunteered as a docent in the mail car of the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway.

Jim is survived by Elaine (Wurst) Bryan, wife of 72 years, daughter Jo Bryan Lowe (Jim), grandsons Justin James Lowe (Miranda) and Jason Bryan Lowe (Donna), and great granddaughter Gwyneth Vivian Lowe.