Anne James

SIOUX CITY | Anne James, 76, of Sioux City passed away Monday, March 25, 2013, at her residence. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Michael Catholic Church, 2223 Indian Hills Drive in Sioux City, with the Rev. David Hemann officiating. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Sunday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel. Condolences may be sent online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Anne loved color and would have liked everyone to wear colorful attire. Anne was born on March 6, 1937, in Fennimore, Wis., the youngest of Frank Neimer and Maude McNamara. She graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in education from the University of Northern Colorado, followed by a master's degree from the University of South Dakota. She started her career in education teaching high school English in Kingsburg, Colo., while her husband Carl finished his degree, later moving to Lander, Wyo., as an elementary teacher. Anne married Carl James on June 9, 1959, in Greeley Colo. In 1966, they moved to Sioux City, where they both had long careers with the Sioux City School District. Anne taught at Bryant Elementary, then at Hoover Junior High from which she retired. Many of her students looked up to her as a mentor. She was intensely loved by all who crossed her path. Anne was passionate about education, serving as president of the Sioux City School Board from 2003 to 2004. Anne was a volunteer to many organizations in the community, including the Sioux City Education Association, League of Women Voters, The Ronald McDonald House, and a member of St. Michael Church. Anne was not only passionate about education but she had a love for music. She was the director of Blessed Sacrament choir and a member of the Cathedral choir for many years as well as a very talented piano player. Outside of education and music, Anne was an animal lover, having several dogs and cats over the years as family pets. Anne and Carl never turned away a stray that showed up on their door step or their children brought home. She loved her dog, Mulligan, who kept her company and looked over her during her final days. Her family will miss her dearly and is happy she was able to touch the hearts of many throughout her lifetime. Survivors include her husband, Carl of Sioux City; a son, Kurt James of Portland Ore.; daughter, Anne Marie DiGiacomo-Edwards (Jean Wenzel) of Seattle Wash.; six grandchildren, Nicole (Robert) Auringer, Madison and Landon Edwards, Charlotte, Teagan and Meghan James; three siblings, Mary Lou Brackett of De Forest, Wis.; Morris of Dubuque, Iowa; and Lorraine Hidding of Hendersonville, N.C.; a brother-in-law, Gerald Ouellette of Canada; and numerous nieces and nephews. Anne was preceded in death by her sisters, Dorothea Neimer, Margaret (Jack) Williams, and Kathleen Ouellette; her brothers, John Neimer, Jim (Shirley) Neimer and Tom (Genevieve) Neimer; brothers-in-laws, Tim Brackett, John Finley and Paul Hidding; along with her parents, Frank and Maude. Pallbearers will be Kevin Kjeldseth, Bill Klein, Mike McTaggart, Larry Williams, Landon Edwards and Kurt James. Memorials may be made in her name to Sioux City Education Association Scholarship Fund.