James D Abbott

James (Jim) Doyle Abbott was born in South Sioux City, Nebraska, on October 21,1934, to Ronald and Cora Belle (Evans) Abbott. The third of seven siblings, he was sent to live on a family farm in Independence, Missouri, at the age of nine, after his mother passed away. From 1952-1966, Jim served in the military, first in the Marine Corps, gaining the rank of Sergeant and then, as a means to see other parts of the world–specifically Germany–he enlisted in the Army. He married during his enlistment and had two sons. After his military days were over, he settled in Omaha, Nebraska, where he remarried and had three more children. He worked at Earl May Garden Center before starting his own lawn and snow removal service. Later, after moving around for a few years, he returned to Omaha in the mid 1980s, taking up home siding, before finally retiring and moving to Mondamin, Iowa, specifically to the community of Ivy Lane in the late 80s. He eventually remarried and lived out his days devouring western novels, fishing the Missouri, gardening, playing cards, bowling and socializing. Jim also loved to dance and sing to old-time country songs and make noise on his guitar. He truly enjoyed engaging with people, rarely letting the aches and pains of life slow him down. Jim passed away May 3, 2025, in Omaha at the age of 90. He is preceded in death by his parents and step-mother, Opal, brothers William, Wayne and Ronnie Ray, and late wife, Virginia (Cannon) Abbott. He’s survived by his sisters, Barbara Lawrence and Charlotte Wirsching; children Ronald and Alex from his first marriage; Roxzanne Feagan, Jay and Jim Abbott and four grandchildren from his second marriage, plus many nieces and nephews and their kids, who absolutely love Uncle Jim, and all of his dear friends in Ivy Lane and Mondamin who loved and cared for him as their own.


Services will be held at 2:00pm on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at the Mondamin Church of Christ, followed by a gathering at the SandBar in Mondamin. Jim will be interned at a later date in Dakota City Cemetery in Dakota City, Nebraska.