James Herman Yender was born December 6, 1942, to Gilbert and Margaret (Merten) Yender in the family home north of Early, IA. He was baptized and confirmed at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early. Jim attended Sacred Heart School, graduating with the class of 1962.  After graduation, he enlisted in the Storm Lake unit of the Army National Guard and served until his discharge in 1968.

     On November 21, 1964, Jim  was united in marriage to JoAnne Meyer at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early, IA. They were blessed with three children: Michael, Jill, and Jan.

     Jim farmed with his brothers,  Louis and Joe,  until he purchased the farm south of Early where they still live.  In addition to farming in the early years, he worked off the farm for the Ful-o-Pep elevator in Early and later for Liechty and Reckoff in Sac City, IA. Jims real passion was for farming and he was glad to be able to return to it full time.

     Jim loved playing cards, watching westerns, going to casinos, and traveling.  He and JoAnne  were well on their way to having visited every state here in the U.S.  They also visited the Dominican Republic, Mexico, and went on several cruises. Jim enjoyed collecting scale models of equipment he had owned through the years. When the kids were younger, he spent many hours on the lake taking them, their friends, and his nieces and nephews water skiing and fishing. Jim was a life long member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Early where he served on the Finance Board, School Board, and was an usher for weekend Mass and for funerals.

    Jim passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017, at  Methodist Manor in Storm Lake, IA. He is survived by his wife, JoAnne, of 52 years; his children:  Michael of Early, IA,  Jill Roling of Early, IA, and Jan (Chris) Pyle of Hinton, IA; grandchildren:  Jesse (Jordan Smith) of Early, IA, Zach Roling of Early, IA, and Austin and Alexis Pyle of Hinton, IA; great-grandchildren:  Cayden Christiansen of Early, IA, and a baby girl expected in May; sister: Mary Ann Brinkman of Early, IA; brothers:  Louis (Velma) Yender of MN, Robert Yender of Early, IA, and Frank (Sheila) Yender; sister-in-law Betty Meyer of Odebolt, IA; his nieces,  nephews, many extended family members and friends.

     He was preceded in death by his parents, twin brother Joe, and brothers-in-law David Brinkman and Verlyn Meyer.