James "Sully" Arthur Sullivan, 91, died Saturday August 12th at St. Marys Hospital in Rochester, Minnesota.

He was born February 22, 1926 in Owatonna, Minnesota to Michael Sullivan and Myrtle Carroll. Sully lived in Rochester most of his life, where his father owned a small neighborhood grocery store and he attended Lourdes High School. He played baseball with the Rochester Young Americans as a left-handed pitcher and was known to have a mean curve ball. He often joked his fastball was mistaken for a sinker due to its lack of speed. He maintained a love for the game his entire life.

Sully joined the Navy the day after graduating high school. After boot camp, he went to San Francisco and then onto Hawaii for training as part of a Naval detachment of 21 men attached to the 10th Army. He participated in the Battle of Okinawa on April Fool's Day 1945 but never spoke much about the war itself.

In 1948, he married the prettiest girl in town, Joanne Distad, and for 69 years they loved and took care of each other. His passions included golfing, fishing, and playing pool. He loved socializing with friends and family and always looked forward to St. Patrick's Day to celebrate and renew relationships with old friends.

He owned and operated Powell & Sullivan's Men's Wear located initially in downtown and later at Apache Mall. Sully was very proud of his store and developed many business and personal relationships over the years. Later in life, he got out of the clothing business and started and operated the Machine Shed, a video arcade and t-shirt store at Apache Mall, as well as Momsie's Sandwich Shop in the old Chateau Theater downtown until he retired.

Sully is survived by his wife, Joanne; sons, Mike (Kathy), Pat (Suzi), and Scott (Laurie); and daughter-in-law, Jody; seven grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Eileen Ranfranz, and Florence Smith; daughter, Sharon; and son, Craig.

Special thanks to the incredible staff in ICU, Joseph 3B and the hospice team at St. Marys Hospital. You were so wonderful. Rest in Peace, Sully. We will miss you.

Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. on Friday, August 18, 2017 at Church of St. John the Evangelist with Rev. Msgr. Gerald Mahon officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery.