C1-Gen Corvette Makes for One Quick Casket John keeble - Getty ImagesSometimes, a car can be a lot more than just transportation. For the deeply afflicted gearhead, an emotional attachment to an automobile is nothing out of the ordinary. Earlier this week, the Internet recently rediscovered images of Chevy Corvette fanatic and Minnesota businessman Jim Feneis, who chose to be displayed in his C1-gen 'Vette during his 2023 funeral—which, naturally, drew a lot of strong reactions. And while there's no denying that is certainly an unusual use for the vintage sports car, there's more to Feneis's story than those images floating around the web.While the images from Feneis's funeral are circulating around social media at the moment due to a Reddit post that was picked up the likes of Corvette Blogger, the funeral itself happened years ago; according to a Facebook post from Miller-Carlin Funeral Home in St Cloud, Minnesota, their work with the Feneis family took place in April 2023. This lines up with claims made by the original poster in the "Awful Taste But Great Execution" subreddit, responsible for circulating this story recently. The OP claims to be the child of a funeral attendee, capturing an image of Feneis "riding" in his cherished 'Vette as part of the visit. "According to the funeral director, his body was kept frozen in a seated position for about a month before the service so he could be displayed behind the wheel, as he had requested," the OP wrote.You can see the Reddit post here and the funeral home's Facebook post here, but as they do include pictures of Feneis after his passing, please do not view the images if they will make you uncomfortable or if you intent to be rude to the Feneis family.A 1960 Chevrolet Corvette.Courtesy General MotorsBut as it turns out, Feneis's love of his Corvette wasn't singular. Not only was he reportedly responsible for planning this whole funeral, he had bigger plans for his collection of vehicles beyond his death, setting up the James Feneis Charitable Foundation in an effort to transform his two-story garage into a full-blown museum. Feneis took a great amount of joy in sharing his passion with the local community during his life, and did not want his passing to put an end to that. "He'd say, 'This is my garage with an attached house,'" friend Bonnie Lenzmeier told Minneapolis-area KSTP 5 ABC Eyewitness News back in 2024. "He wanted this to be for all the local kids to come and visit, see the cars and see the history upstairs and see the neon signs."Idle Ridge Car MuseumWhile it isn't officially open yet, Feneis's dream did come to fruition: The Idle Ridge Car Museum in Sauk Rapids, Minnesota, is dedicated to Jim, featuring his collection of cars, vintage memorabilia, a 1950s-inspired diner, and even a car wash. It looks like a beautiful little car museum, and it even offers private events for smaller groups as well as plans for hours dedicated specifically to the public.AdvertisementAdvertisementIt's easy to look at pictures of a deceased man using his 1960 Corvette as a casket and think it's strange. I think that's a fair assessment. That said, I can fully get behind someone's love for all things automotive being pushed to its limits, and the fact that Jim wanted to ensure that the next generation had a chance to appreciate these rolling pieces of history is all the better. These images may be drumming up attention online, but personally, I hope some added context helps push folks to visit the museum. Rest easy, Mr. Feneis.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State