James Lane

James (Jim) Lane passed away on Sunday August 31, 2025 surrounded by family, after a brief illness.

Jim was born in 1945 to Bernadine and Bert Lane. He was named for his Father's best friend in World War II.

He and his mother followed his father from place to place as he moved around the midwest from Sioux City to Chicago, until his father died in a truck accident when Jim was just 16.

Jim was extremely proud of his military career, as he volunteered for service and served three tours of duty in Vietnam. He was veteran of the Army National Guard and the United States Navy. He was wounded in action and was honorably discharged with a purple heart, amongst other honors. He was active with the VFW and the American Legion.

He served the local community as a butcher until he joined the USDA as a food safety inspector, where he was eventually voted to be the Chief Steward of their local union, until his retirement.

In retirement, he traced his family lineage back through Daniel Boone and to Daniel Highsmith in the Revolutionary War, and thus became a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution.

He then helped to bring the traveling Vietnam War memorial and fundraised to build a permanent war memorial representing all branches of service, in Beloit.

He was a devout Catholic and he preferred to listen to mass in latin because he said, "it felt more mystical."

He loved to laugh, watch comedy movies and K-State football games, he loved to cook, grill chicken and ribs, always over charcoal.

James is survived by his wife Cindy Lane, of Beloit, his sister Julie Steier, of Clyde, his 8 children, 20 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 11 AM Thursday, September 4 at the St. John's Catholic Church in Beloit. Burial services will be at 12:30 PM Friday, September 5 at Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth. Visitation will be at 9:30 AM followed by a rosary service at 10:30 AM Thursday at the Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund.

https://www.vvmf.org/Support-VVMF/Memorial-Donations/