Jim D. Sybert

Jimmie Dale “Jim” Sybert was born on March 8, 1943 in Rock Port, Missouri, the only child of Oba O. and Marjorie M. (Reeder) Sybert.  He grew up and went to school in Rock Port with numerous friends and relatives nearby.  Jim graduated from Rock Port High School in 1961.
In 1963 he began growing his family with the birth of his first child, a daughter, Jill.  Daughter Tracy followed in 1969 and son Travis came along in 1972.  He completed his family with the births of daughter Breea in 1978 and son Jade in 1980.  He loved his children and spent hours tickling, pushing them high on the playground swings, passing on his love of all critters whether they had feathers, scales, or fur, and of course, teaching them the fine art of teasing, laughing, and generally having a good time.
In between all the babies, he went to work first in his parents’ motel, and then in a motel of his own built near I-29 close to Rock Port.  After selling that business several years later, he managed various hotels and motels in the Midwest.
As his family got older, Jim was blessed with nine grandchildren (so far!) and enjoyed all of them just as much, if not more as his own children.  He loved family get-togethers with children running everywhere, pets underfoot and his mother’s good cooking filling the table.
In his later years he changed vocations and began working as a caregiver to men with developmental disabilities.  He developed very close relationships with his coworkers and the people he cared for, and in many ways, the last years of his life were given a special meaning because of the work he did.
He had friends wherever he went, from the deli at the grocery store to the employees at the Post Office.  He was loved.
Jim passed on Sun., Nov. 23, 2014, surrounded by the love of his family.  He was preceded in death by his father, Oba Sybert, and his mother, Marjorie Sybert.  He is survived by his children and their spouses, Jill and Randy Tracy of Savannah, Mo.; Tracy and Mike Lovett of Sidney, Ia.; Travis Sybert of Kansas City, Mo.; Breea and Brett Holmes of Weston, Mo.; and Jade and Lori Sybert of Rock Port, Mo..  He also has nine terrific grandchildren: Devon, Sloane, Sterling, Starson, Sailor, Trenton, Avery, Madelyn, and Carsyn.
In keeping with Jim’s love of all creatures great and small, instead of flowers, memorials will be sent to Hearts United For Animals, an animal shelter in Auburn, Nebraska.
In keeping with Jim’s love of laughter, good times, friends, warm weather and golf, a Celebration of Life get-together will be held on Sunday, July  19, 2015 from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm at Washawtee Lodge, Waubonsie State Park, Hamburg, Iowa.