James O'Rourke

James H. O'Rourke, 77, Moorhead, MN, died on Thursday, March 3, 2011, in Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.Jim was born on July 20, 1933, in Osnabrock, ND, to Joseph M. and Mildred E. Gustafson Rourke. He grew up and attended school in Osnabrock and graduated from the Langdon, ND, High School. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, MN, graduating in 1956 with a degree in art. He served in the U.S. Army in Europe from 1957 until 1960 and upon his discharge stayed in Europe to travel and study. Jim returned to Moorhead and, with his brother Orland J. Rourke, founded the Rourke Art Gallery in Moorhead in 1961. He had many solo art exhibitions throughout the upper Midwest over the years. Jim was proud of the architectural restorations that he achieved in Moorhead including the Martinson house Rourke Gallery, the Franklin-Sharp House, and the Moorhead Federal Post Office Rourke Art Museum. In 1975 he partnered with the Red River Art Center and formed the Plains Art Museum. He founded the Rourke Art Museum in 1992, and served in many capacities with numerous art organizations and educational institutions in the Fargo-Moorhead area. He was recognized by the Lake Agassiz Arts Council with the Arts Advocate Award, the Red River Valley Historical Society with the Heritage Award for Special Achievement and he received the Uplifting the Arts Lifetime Achievement Award from Northwest Airlines.Jim is survived by his brother, Vern Cindy Gillispie Rourke, Mission, Kansas; sister-in-law, Shirley Rourke, Fargo, ND; two nephews, J. Erin Rourke and J. Bracken Rourke. He was preceded in death by his brother, Orland J. Rourke.