James Edgar Bass departed this earthly life peacefully surrounded by family and friends Saturday, October 7, 2023. Jim was born on Friday, July 13, 1959 to Norman and Olive (Pitzer) Bass, the only boy and youngest child.

As a young child Jim lived with his parents and three sisters on the family farm in rural Inavale, Nebraska. When Jim was 5 his family moved to Kensington, Kansas, where he would graduate from Kensington High School with the class of 1977.

In December of 1977 Jim met the love of his life Wanda Dierking. They were united in marriage on August 27, 1978. To this union five daughters were born: Janice, Julie, Joanie, Jamie and Jessica. The couple made their home in Kensington, Phillipsburg, and north of Agra before returning and settling on a small farm east of Phillipsburg.

For many years Jim worked for Tamko as a utility lineman. After an injury accident at work Jim was forced to make a career change. He would work at an area salebarn and break horses to ride, before going into retail management for the local grocery store and Orscheln's store.

Jim shared his love and passion for horses with his daughters. One of his greatest joys was helping his girls show horses. When Jim and Wanda started having grandchildren and great grandchildren, he found a new love and joy in teaching them to ride horses.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Norman and Olive; in-laws Howard and Shirley Dierking; sister's Marjorie Bohrer and Betty Gleason. Also preceding him in death was brother-in-law's Roderick Bohrer, Phillip Gleason, Karl Dierking and Roger Streit; nephews Randy Bohrer, infant Bohrer and Benjamin Dierking; and close family friend David Dunning.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife Wanda of the home. Daughters Janice Boland and husband Karl of Alton; Julie Huffman and husband Chris of Smith Center; Joanie Bass and husband Luke Martin of Phillipsburg; Jamie and Jessica Bass of the home. Eight grandchildren Dakota Boland; Nicole, Natalie (Jeremy), Nathan (Kandis), and Nolan Huffman; Mariah (Cordell) Nelson, Jaden and Michael O'Malley. Three great grandchildren Journee Wise, Emmett Ratliff and Kourtlynn Nelson. Sister Phyllis Osborne and husband Rodney of Holdrege, Nebraska, brother-in-law Dwight Dierking and wife Jeanine of Gillette, Wyoming, sisters-in-law Bonnie Streit of Sheldon, Nebraska, Deb Lamont and husband Steve of Kensington, Kansas and Donna Eckhart and husband Doug of Riverton, Nebraska. Many nieces, nephews and dear friends David and Nancy DeWester, Karen Dunning, and Ashley Jones.

A funeral service, officiated by Pastor Chris Baker, will be held at the Heartland Worship Center in Agra, Kansas, at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, October 13, 2023. Following the service, burial will take place at the Thornburg Cemetery in Smith County, Kansas.

Mr. Bass will lie in state from 12 p.m. until 5 p.m. Wednesday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Olliff-Boeve Memorial Chapel in Phillipsburg.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the James Bass Memorial Fund.