Debora Lynn James

Debora Lynn “Debbie” James, 64 of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on Saturday, May 4, 2024 at MercyOne Hospital.   Funeral Services will be at Noon, Monday, May 13, 2024 at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel with Pastor Michelle Williamson officiating.  Abiding by her wishes, cremation will follow.  Visitation, with the family present, will begin at 10:00 a.m. Monday morning at the funeral home.  Online condolences may be offered at www.meyerbroschapels.com  Family requests memorials be made to either the COPD Foundation, or MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) of Iowa.

Debbie was born on January 13, 1960 in Sioux City to Charles F. and Bonnie M. (Heydon) Harder.  After graduating from West High School with the Class of 1978, she moved to Des Moines, Iowa and met Darryl R. James, they moved to Joliet, Illinois and started a family.  She married Darryl R. James in 1983.  

Debbie moved back to Sioux City in 1989, where she worked data entry most of her life until she retired in 2022.  Before her retirement, she had returned to further her education, graduating from Western Iowa Tech in 1994.   She recently realized all her grandkids were busy and decided to go back to work.  She worked at Spaulding School in Sioux City where she loved the kids, but unfortunately, had to leave for health issues.  and had just started working at hospice a week before her death.  

Debbie loved her grandkids.   They were her everything.  When she wasn’t with one of them, she loved to garden and craft.  

Debbie is survived by her daughters Danette (Cherrie Dean) James and Danyelle (Salvador) Mejia; husband Darryl James; six grandkids Haileigh “RoseBud”, Jada “Jay-Bird”, Jaleigha “Lee-Lee”, Valerie “Val”, Vanessa “Baby Nessa”, and Salvador “My Buddy”, siblings Annette (Rich) Gensler, Gregory (Cheri) Harder, Sr, and Cheryl (David) Lambrecht, best friend Julie Dicus "Grandma Julie", and many nieces and nephews.

Debbie was preceded in death by her parents, sisters Suzanne Harder and Marsha Hofer, many family including cousins and aunts, and her dog Ditto.