Our beloved dad passed from complications related to liver cancer. He gave it a good fight and did not want to go. He will be so greatly missed by all who loved him.

Jim was born Jan. 7, 1960 to Ray and Dodie Withee in Burns, where he joined his two older sisters and two older brothers, becoming the baby brother of his family.

Jim showed artistic talent at a young age and loved cartooning and painting. Later in life his acrylic painting style was inspired by artists he admired, Thomas Kincaid and Bob Ross, painting many scenes with soft light and beautiful florals.

Jim was very athletic and had a life long love of sports, coaching, and caring for his much loved “ball fields.” He was a well know baseball player in his youth and continued to play for many years in an adult slow pitch softball league. Their dugout and on field antics are the stuff of legends. He was deceptively fast as well and once beat all of the BHS softball team in a footrace. He maintains the Lincoln Junior High School record for most points scored in a single game.

Jim married Shana Weisgram in 1988 (8/8/88 – often reminded by others and not seldom forgotten) and welcomed four children. Being a dad to Katee, Kenny, Julee, and Nick was the greatest joy of his life. He supported his kids in all of their endeavors and spoiled them rotten. He spent many hours with his kids coaching, building forts, cooking meals, camping at the cabin, repairing bikes, and building giant snowmen with his backhoe. He transformed the basement into a space to hang out and enjoy a greasy hamburger and even turned the yard into a wiffle ball field and ice skating rink.

When his kids were grown, he spent his time visiting on the phone, camping, fishing, wrenching, hunting, and scheming and dreaming. His ultimate dream would have been to have all of his adult children, their spouses, and grandkids live at home with him forever.

Jim was a wonderful dad, good friend, generous, caring, and always the first to offer help and volunteer, never expecting recognition. He loved a good story and sharing a laugh with the many people he cared for. He had a roster of jokes, stories, and sayings he often cycled through, always guaranteed to get a laugh.

He loved his cabin, cutting firewood, all types of animals and his pets, mowing lawns, running heavy equipment, and going for a drive in the woods. He was a collector of all sorts of things and had many hobbies and interests. He volunteered his time with Parks and Rec, 4H, Little League, Babe Ruth, the cemetery committee, Burns city council, the Elks, and the Harney County Historical Museum.

He is survived by his wife of 38 years, Shana; daughters, Katee (Cory) Winkelbauer and Julee (Garrett) Crawford; sons, Kenny (Meg) Withee and Nick (Desy) Withee; grandchildren, Neil Winkelbauer and unborn baby girl, Crawford (due July 2026); sister, Sandy (Glenn) Whitmore; brothers, Dan (Lori) and Mike (Toni) Withee; mother-in-law, Reta Rae Weisgram, many brothers-and sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, and his friends.

He is preceded in death by his mom and dad; Ray and Dodie Withee; his sister and brother-in-law, Wendy and Bob Novak; and father-in-law, Don Weisgram.

Please join us in a celebration of Jim’s life on Saturday, March 28 at 3 p.m., at the Burns Elk’s Lodge. Hamburgers will be served.