James K. Bliven, 82 of rural Dakota City, Nebraska passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026, at the hospital in Yankton, South Dakota. Services for Jim will begin with a burial at Memorial Park Cemetery, 6605 Morningside Avenue, Sioux City, Iowa on Friday, April 3, 2026, with graveside prayers offered by Reverend Sandra Braasch. Visitation will continue at the Salem Lutheran Church, 1753 G Avenue, Dakota City, Nebraska at 10:00 a.m. with a Memorial Service to follow at 11:00 a.m. Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Salem Lutheran Church, the Dakota City Fire and Rescue, or the Homer Community Education Foundation.

Jim was born in Homer, Nebraska, on October 18, 1943 to Kenneth and Evalyn (Waddell) Bliven. He spent the majority of his life on the Bliven farm near Dakota City. Jim attended the rural Heilman Elementary School through eighth grade and graduated from Dakota City High School with the Class of 1961. Jim participated in football, basketball, and track. As a senior, Jim qualified for the Nebraska State Track Meet in 5 events. Jim attended Wayne State College and the University of South Dakota leaving college to continue farming.

Jim married Carolyn Burcum on June 12, 1965. They later divorced. On August 17, 1974, Jim married Jeanine Lundberg at Salem Lutheran Church.

In addition to farming Jim was a conservationist spending many hours hunting, fishing, and building wetlands and areas for the benefit of wildlife. Jim also sold seed corn for RobSeeCo Golden Harvest for many years. Later in life, Jim spent many hours at the Homer Community School as a substitute teacher, assistant and head coach for the Girls Basketball Team, and Girls and Boys Track Coach. His love of children and youth made many happy memories for him at school.

Jim loved to play baseball, softball, basketball, golf, and bowling. He made many memories on hunting and fishing trips with Jeanine, family, and friends to South Dakota, Minnesota, and Canada. For 16 years, Jim and Jeanine spent the winter in Florida making more lifelong friends.

Jim contributed to his community as a past member of the Dakota City Fire and Rescue, board member for the South Sioux Coop, the Dakota Thurston Pheasants Forever, the Homer Community Education Foundation and was a lifetime member of Salem Lutheran Church.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jeanine; daughters, and their spouses, Sarah and Mike Naeve, Michelle and Scott Hulit, and Amy and Mike Woerdemann; son Mark and Christina Bliven; 13 grandchildren – Nathan (Laura) Hancock, Terence (Whitney) Hancock, Narelle (Sean) Burns, Trace (Abby) Naeve, Kayli, Stephanie, Anna, Mason, and Gracie Naeve, Collin and Colter Bliven, and Christopher (Jordyn) and Joseph Woerdenmann; 8 great-grandchildren – Noah, Isaiah, Henry, Parker, Benjamin, Bailey, Elizabeth, and Duane; sisters-in-law Janell (Ken) Adams and Joanne (Mike) Chedester; and his brother-in-law Paul (Pat) Lundberg.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, sister and her husband, Wilma and Del Eldredge, grandson Jacob Woerdemann, nephew Chris Harris, niece Mary McInnis and brother-in-law Kenneth "Butch" Lundberg.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Accura Healthcare of Hartington, Nebraska for their months of compassionate care of Jim when he needed it the most.