James, McGinnis, 84 of Deadwood, SD., and formerly of Wisner NE., passed away on Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at the Fort Meade VA Hospital in Sturgis, SD. Jim was born to Elmer and Mae (Miller) McGinnis on May 5, 1929 in Norfolk Nebraska.

Raised in the Nebraska communities of Norfolk and Wisner, Jim graduated from Wisner High School in 1948. After high school, Jim attended Kemper Military School in Boonville, MO for one year and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for one year majoring in agriculture. Jim and Bonnie Jean Luther of Wisner married June 21, 1951. Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951 during the Korean War and served for two years. Upon his honorable discharge in 1954, Jim and Bonnie returned to Wisner to live, work and raise their family. Jim worked at Cornhusker State Telephone Company, a subsidiary of Continental Telephone Company, for over 20 years. Starting as a lineman and telephone repairman, Jim rose to regional manager acquiring and managing independent telephone companies across four mid-western states. For many years, Jim also owned and operated a livestock operation buying and selling cattle and raising hogs.

In the late-1980s, Jim moved to Deadwood, SD and worked in facility management at Black Hills State University. He and Bonnie moved to Deadwood full time in the late 1990s enjoying their cabin in Spearfish Canyon.

Wherever he lived, Jim was an involved and active public servant. In Wisner, he served multiple terms on the Wisner City Council, Wisner-Pilger School Board, Spearfish Canyon Owners Association and Spearfish Canyon Fire Protection District. He was also active the Wisner Lyons Club and the American Legions of both Wisner and Deadwood. He and Bonnie belonged to and were active in the Wisner Christ Lutheran Church and Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in Lead, SD. One of his most fulfilling contributions to the communities in which he lived was Jim's leadership and involvement in the establishment of Veterans Memorials in Wisner at the Dinklage Park and in front of the Deadwood Court House.

Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Bonnie (Luther); son, Mike McGinnis of Omaha; daughter, Jean (Jim) Carberry of Kailua, HI; 5 grandchildren, 2 great grandchildren; sister, Sally Chilsom of Lincoln, NE; and a sister-in-law, Joell McGinnis of Cozad, NE. He is preceded in death by parents Elmer and Mae (Miller) of Norfolk, NE; brother Howard of Cozad, NE; and son Scott of San Marcos, TX.

Jim was a devoted son to his parents, brother to his siblings, husband to his wife Bonnie, father and grandfather, friend and mentor to many, and servant to his Nation and to the communities in which he lived and worked. Jim will be dearly missed by his family and many friends.

Funeral Services for James will be 10am Monday, February 10, 2014, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with the Pastor David Baer officiating. Burial with Military Honors will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery. Family will receive friends from 1pm to 3pm on Sunday, February 9, 2014, at the funeral home. The visitation will conclude at 5pm.

The family requests donations to benefit the Make-A-Wish-Foundation and the Fort Meade VA Hospital Hospice Care Program in lieu of flowers.

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