Pastor with ‘Big Heart’ Dies Suddenly After Helping Stranded Motorist

A Minnesota pastor who died after assisting a stranded motorist is being remembered for a lifetime of care for his community and a steadfast commitment to helping others.

James S. “Jim” Bzoskiek of Hastings died on Dec. 19, according to his obituary. He was 76.

“A devoted pastor, husband, father, and friend to many, Pastor Jim dedicated his life to serving the Lord and caring for others, leaving a lasting impact on countless lives through his faith, compassion, and leadership,” the obituary said.

The Dakota County Sheriff’s Office also honored Bzoskiek in a Monday, Dec. 22, Facebook post, calling him a longtime pillar of support.

“Since 1979, Pastor Jim was a constant and trusted presence within the Office,” the post said. “He helped build and sustain our jail programming, served faithfully as our chaplain, and provided steady encouragement, perspective, and humor for decades. When the work was heavy, Jim was there. When there was something to celebrate, he was there too.”

In an interview with CBS affiliate WCCO, Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko said Bzoskiek’s final moments were spent helping a motorist who was stuck in the snow outside Cornerstone Bible Church.

Bzoskiek had been at the church earlier preparing gift bags for inmates, his family told NBC affiliate KARE. After returning from helping the driver, he collapsed.

Sarah Lindner, Bzoskiek’s daughter, told KCCO that her father likely suffered a heart attack.

“He was helping people until those very last moments,” Lindner said. “I had a friend tell me he served right up to the bell, and I was like, ‘I love that,’ and he would have wanted that.”

Colleagues and friends said that spirit of service defined him.

“He knew his purpose in life and knew he was called to do what he did in the community and the church and he did it with all his heart,” Kent Begnaud, a fellow pastor and longtime friend, told KARE. “I’m going to miss him a lot.”

Leko also reflected on Bzoskiek’s decades of work as chaplain at the sheriff’s office, telling WCCO, “He didn’t do this to pad his pocketbook, he did it because he had a big heart.”

Renee Harwood-Souza, who organized a GoFundMe to help cover funeral and burial expenses for the family, wrote that Bzoskiek spent nearly 50 years supporting law enforcement, jail staff, inmates, and families across Dakota County.

“For nearly five decades, Jim ministered to law enforcement, jail staff, inmates, and families throughout Dakota County, offering prayer, comfort, wisdom, and hope in life’s hardest moments,” Harwood-Souza wrote in the fundraiser description. “As founding pastor of Cornerstone Bible Church in Hastings, he lived his calling fully—showing up wherever God placed a need.”

“His legacy of compassion, faith, and service has touched countless lives, and his absence leaves a deep void in the hearts of all who knew him,” she added.

A celebration of Bzoskiek’s life is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2026, at Hastings Middle School.

“Jim had a natural way of connecting with people and a genuine love for community. He found joy in being around others, and he never slowed down when it came to showing up for people,” the sheriff’s office said.

“He will be deeply missed, and his legacy will continue in the way we care for one another and serve our community,” the statement added.