James I. Sibert, 88, of Orange, Texas, formerly of Cedar Rapids, passed away Monday, Jan. 7, 2013, at Answered Prayers Assisted Living, Orange, Texas. Funeral Service: 11 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 17, at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories, with the Rev. Bob Voels officiating. Burial will be at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where a Masonic service will be held at 4 p.m.

Survivors include his loving wife of 65 years, Virginia of Orange, Texas; sons, Donald Sibert of Orange, Texas, Richard Sibert of Copper Canyon, Texas and David Sibert of Hiawatha; four grandsons, Jimmy (Alicia) Sibert, Bobby Sibert, Jake Sibert and Ben Sibert; sister, Faye (Dean) Holm of Lake Bluff, Ill.; and nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ann Bey.

James Irl Sibert was born June 12, 1924, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Albert and Ida (Ireland) Sibert. After attending the University of Illinois, he served in the U.S. Army during World War II from 1943-1946. On Sept. 23, 1947, he married Virginia Lotz in Edna, Kan. He had worked for Iowa Electric and Power, Crandic Railroad and then as a project manager for Northwestern Bell Telephone Co. until retiring in 1982. Jim was a member of Trinity United Methodist Church, Cedar Rapids, Faith United Methodist Church, Orange, Texas, was a lifetime Mason and Scottish Rite member, charter member of the Twirlin’ Travelers Camping Club and square dancer for over 50 years.

He will be greatly missed by all who loved and knew him.

He loved square dancing, camping, puttering in his workshop, volunteering for the Midwest Central Railroad at Mount Pleasant during the Old Thresher’s Reunion, telling jokes and entertaining with skits.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given in his name to Trinity Methodist Church, 400 Third Ave. SW, Cedar Rapids, IA 52404; Faith United Methodist Church, 8608 Martin Luther King Jr. Dr., Orange, TX 77632; or Answered Prayer Assisted Living, 602 Azalea Ave., Orange, TX 77630.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedarmemorial.com under “obituaries.”

Published Jan. 14, 2013 in The Gazette