James D. Sarff
Posted: Sunday, May 11, 2008
James D. Sarff, 72, of Sioux City, our larger than life husband, father and grandfather, entered into heaven with a song in his heart on Thursday, May 8, 2008.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Morningside Assembly of God Church. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m., and a Masonic service at 7 p.m., at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com.
Jim was born Jan. 13, 1936, in Onawa, Iowa (aka Raintree County) to Evelyn Mae Conway Sarff Butcher and Lowell V. (Con) Sarff. On July 7, 1950, he was baptized in the First Christian Church there. He graduated from Onawa High School in 1954, and remained a loyal Bulldog fan forever. Jim also attended Wayne State College and the University of South Dakota.
Jim married his high school sweetheart, Molly McFarland, on Oct. 31, 1956. They lived briefly in Onawa, but made Sioux City "that great big beautiful town" their home for more than 50 years. In 1959, Jim began his longtime career with Hartford Transit Department at the Sioux City Stockyards, where he retired as regional manager. At the time of Jim's death, he was president of Reback Trucking Insurance of which he proudly shared ownership with his son, Shaun.
Of all Jim's attributes, his profound generosity and natural ability to generate enthusiasm will be missed by the many organizations he worked through. For many years, he was the co-chairman of the Farm to Market Truckers Day, a founding member of the Boys Club Auction and organizer for the Goodfellows. As a sports enthusiast, Jim was always promoting the local athletics of East High School and Morningside College.
He was a member of Morningside Lodge 615, Scottish Rite Abu Bekr Temple, a member and sponsor of the White Horse Mounted Patrol and Pastor Director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court 124.
Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Molly; a son, Shaun Sarff and special friend, Julie Bell of Sioux City; two daughters, Kelly Thole and husband, Steve of Omaha, and Stacy Jaacks and husband, Monte of Sergeant Bluff; grandchildren, Trevor and Taylor Sarff of Sioux City, Chad Carlson and wife, Lori of Omaha, Corey Carlson of Denver, Colo., Megan Thole of Des Moines, Bryn Thole of Omaha, Haley Thole of Omaha, Ashley Jaacks of Sergeant Bluff, and Whitney Jaacks of Des Moines; great-grandchildren, Reis and Maddie Carlson of Omaha; siblings, Sandra Peterson of Iredale, Texas, and Lowell Sarff Jr. and his wife, Patricia of Sioux City; and his faithful companion, Lulu.
If the integrity of a man is measured by the number of friends one has, Jim's is not measurable. "We'll be seeing him in all the ol' familiar places" the man from Raintree took his party with him.
Memorials may be sent to the angels at Siouxland Hospice.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Morningside Assembly of God Church. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. Monday, with the family present 5 to 8 p.m., and a Masonic service at 7 p.m., at Christy-Smith Morningside Chapel. Online condolences may be sent to www.christysmith.com.
Jim was born Jan. 13, 1936, in Onawa, Iowa (aka Raintree County) to Evelyn Mae Conway Sarff Butcher and Lowell V. (Con) Sarff. On July 7, 1950, he was baptized in the First Christian Church there. He graduated from Onawa High School in 1954, and remained a loyal Bulldog fan forever. Jim also attended Wayne State College and the University of South Dakota.
Jim married his high school sweetheart, Molly McFarland, on Oct. 31, 1956. They lived briefly in Onawa, but made Sioux City "that great big beautiful town" their home for more than 50 years. In 1959, Jim began his longtime career with Hartford Transit Department at the Sioux City Stockyards, where he retired as regional manager. At the time of Jim's death, he was president of Reback Trucking Insurance of which he proudly shared ownership with his son, Shaun.
Of all Jim's attributes, his profound generosity and natural ability to generate enthusiasm will be missed by the many organizations he worked through. For many years, he was the co-chairman of the Farm to Market Truckers Day, a founding member of the Boys Club Auction and organizer for the Goodfellows. As a sports enthusiast, Jim was always promoting the local athletics of East High School and Morningside College.
He was a member of Morningside Lodge 615, Scottish Rite Abu Bekr Temple, a member and sponsor of the White Horse Mounted Patrol and Pastor Director of the Royal Order of Jesters Court 124.
Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Molly; a son, Shaun Sarff and special friend, Julie Bell of Sioux City; two daughters, Kelly Thole and husband, Steve of Omaha, and Stacy Jaacks and husband, Monte of Sergeant Bluff; grandchildren, Trevor and Taylor Sarff of Sioux City, Chad Carlson and wife, Lori of Omaha, Corey Carlson of Denver, Colo., Megan Thole of Des Moines, Bryn Thole of Omaha, Haley Thole of Omaha, Ashley Jaacks of Sergeant Bluff, and Whitney Jaacks of Des Moines; great-grandchildren, Reis and Maddie Carlson of Omaha; siblings, Sandra Peterson of Iredale, Texas, and Lowell Sarff Jr. and his wife, Patricia of Sioux City; and his faithful companion, Lulu.
If the integrity of a man is measured by the number of friends one has, Jim's is not measurable. "We'll be seeing him in all the ol' familiar places" the man from Raintree took his party with him.
Memorials may be sent to the angels at Siouxland Hospice.
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