James J. McElhany

James J. McElhany, 89, of Sioux City, IA, passed away May 20, 2023 at a local hospital. A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel. Visitation will be 1 hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Fort Sill National Cemetery in Oklahoma. Online condolences may be made to www.meyerbroschapels.com. Jim was born on May 31, 1933 in Norman, OK, to Seabron Hugh and Alma (Selman) McElhany. He went to school in Oklahoma and was an ROTC graduate in Animal Science and Marketing from Oklahoma State University. He was commissioned into the United States Army on May 28, 1955. Jim was stationed in Korea and was honorably discharged in 1957. He served in the Army National Guard before transferring over to the Air National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Jim worked for the United States Department of Agriculture for 38 years holding positions in St Paul, Fargo, West Des Moines, and finally Sioux City in 1971, retiring as head of the Market News office in 1996. He was an adjunct faculty at Morningside College and Western Iowa Tech where he taught a class in marketing. He was united in marriage to Julie Ann Sauer (Sherlock) on July 10, 1992 in Sioux City, Iowa. He had varied interests and responsibilities during his career(s) and in retirement. For many years he volunteered as Liaison Officer to candidates for the United States Air Force Academy. He was a lifetime member of the Military Officers Association of America. He was an avid hunter, a lifetime member of Pheasants Forever and very active in the local fundraisers. He enjoyed the great outdoors! He thoroughly enjoyed reading books, biography and history being his favorite genres. He served on the advisory board of the Siouxland YMCA and was involved in fundraising for the Y. He enjoyed being a volunteer driver to Children’s Minnesota-Twin Cities- Hospital and having the title: Hospital Dad. He enjoyed the sport of trapshooting. A moment of silence was held for him at this year’s Missouri State Shoot on May 22. He served as a coach in LeMars, Iowa for the American Trapshooting Associations Youth Program, AIM-- Academics, Integrity, and Marksmanship. In the past few years, he liked going to Active Generations of Siouxland where he enjoyed his class in Rock Steady Boxing and visiting with friends. He loved friendly conversation, could speak on a wide range of topics, and tell a great story. Those left to honor his memory include his wife, Julie McElhany, Sioux City, IA; children: Susan (Greg) Beckwith, Red Wing, MN, Joel (Anna) McElhany, Fort Worth, TX; and grandchildren: James and Laura McElhany; brothers: Charles (Linda) McElhany and John McElhany. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Seabron Junior and sister Mary Jane.