In Loving Memory to the Love of My Life
Jim
April 1940 – May 2016
Jim went to his heavenly home on May 9, 2016 when he was killed in an accident on our farm. Jim & I had 51 wonderful years together. We raised four children that we couldn’t be prouder of and we’ve had awesome family and friends all of those years. We loved life together. Praise God for all of our blessings! We were not ready for Jim to make his heavenly journey just yet and we miss him so much, but as Christians we know that one day we will be together again.
For our family from now to eternity every rainbow we see is Jim (Dad) smiling down from heaven. The evening Jim died, Karree’s dear friend Holly sent us a picture of a beautiful double rainbow that she had just seen and said “that’s Dad, he is trying to tell you he’s okay.” Also later that night while Karree was on the plane flying from Colorado to Kansas she saw a magnificent rainbow out the window. During Jim’s visitation many people told us there was a beautiful double rainbow over the church and that it must be Jim smiling from heaven.
On the last morning Jim & I had together, we sat in the swing in the backyard drinking our coffee and Jim started tapping on my leg and pointing to the hummingbird feeder hanging on the barn. It was the first Baltimore oriole we had ever seen drinking the hummer food. We were so excited and laughed and enjoyed the precious moments together. During the week as friends and family dropped by to extend sympathy we were usually sitting in the backyard and one couldn’t even begin to count the number of Baltimore Orioles that would descend giving us moments to enjoy their beauty. I feel Jim’s spirit was right there with us.
We are so thankful that Jim was a Christian and knew his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. With joy in our hears, we as Christians have the assurance that we will again be united with Jim and our loved ones gone before. Everyone has an appointment with death, and Jim always said, ‘death is a part of living’. He had received God’s offer of salvation and was saved, and it was always on his heart that everyone could experience salvation and receive Christ into their heart. “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved.” Acts 16:31. The Bible says there is only one way to Heaven. “Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live.” John 11:25.
I know that Jim would be very pleased that I want to share on behalf of him the plan of salvation.
God loves you: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3: 16.
All are sinners: “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” Romans 3:23.
All may be saved now: “For whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Romans 10:13. “Behold I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him.” Revelation 3:20.
Are you ready to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior?: Right now, you can pray to God to have the Spirit of His son, Jesus Christ, come dwell inside your heart. And with that, you can receive the gift of God’s grace and a promise of life spent in heaven after your life here on earth.
My decision to receive Christ as my Savior: I need to confess to God that I am a sinner, and believe that the Lord Jesus Christ died for my sins on the cross and was raised for my justification. I receive and confess Him as my personal Savior.
After receiving Jesus Christ as your Savior, as a Christian you should: Read your Bible, talk to God in prayer, be baptized, work & fellowship in church with other Christians and tell others about Christ.
At the funeral Pastor Rick gave us such comfort when he said that where Jim had the accident is hollowed ground because that is where God received Jim into heaven. We know where Jim is, he is with the Heavenly Father and he’s fine. God please grant his family strength and give us peace knowing what a fine Christian man he was.
God rest his soul—-love of our life—-see you in eternity.
Marilyn, Eric, Kellee & Jim, Karree, Derick & Chelsea
The Farmers Meanderings 
Thank you Lord for Jim’s wonderful life & the Blessing he was to so many! Hugs & prayers to you all Marilyn!!
Very nice! I hope everyone who reads this has already, or will, accept Christ as their Savior. Jim would be so proud. We will miss Jim for a long, long time with an ache in our hearts but a smile on our faces because we loved how he made us laugh & loved to hear his jolly lough. And we’ll smile because we know where he is and that we will see him again.
Alana & Tom
Both of you have reached people you do not even know, yet know you and your love for travel. Reading your post today, makes me so aware how life is so precious and we must seize the moment. I am so sorry for your lose. I have traveled with you over the internet and today, share your lose, yet unable to hug you and offer my sympathy. God Bless you and thanks for sharing so much of your love and life.
Such a lovely tribute! May God hold you and your family in his loving hands and help you through difficult days.
What a beautiful tribute to a loving Christian man. Marilyn, I am so very sorry for your loss as well as the loss your family is experiencing. You are in my prayers. These loving, reflections of Jimâs life will forever be in your hearts as you turn sorrow into loving âforeverâ memories.
I was so thrilled to finally meet you and Jim on my last Eastern Europe River Cruise. Thank you for the years of memories thru the âFarmers Meanderingsâ.
Sharon Spencer (A Fellow Traveler with Grand Circle)
Fantastic tribute. How special is it that you had so many wonderful travels. I love the fact about the rainbow. . It for sure was a sign from Jim. May God comfort you as Jim comforts you and the kids through the rainbows. You and the kids have been in my thoughts many times. Love to you and your family.