JAMES JUNIOR SIBURT: Born Feb. 14th, 1927 in Farmer City, Illinois, was the youngest son of James Edward and Martha Lucinda (Daniels) Siburt. Jim married VIRGINIA MARIE COLE, daughter of James Felix Cole & Pansy Clara Rosina (Hudson) on November 30th, 1947 at Grace Methodist Church in Decatur, Illinois. Virginia was born March 23rd, 1927 in Moweaqua, Illinois. They were blessed with 5 daughters and one son, who would go on to spend 22 years in the Navy.

At 15, Jim started at the Fisher Grocery Store (Piggly Wiggly) in Decatur, Illinois -June 1942-1944. Like his father and brothers, he started working for the Railway Express Agency (REA) in Decatur in March 20, 1944-Aug.9, 1944. He held various positions.

Jim enlisted in the Navy on Aug. 20, 1944 before the start of his Junior year. The way the story goes is he lied about his age so he could join the war to be with his 2 older brothers Bob & Bill. He started as an Apprentice Seamen advancing to the rank of Coxswain. He served in the Amphibious Service on LST 849 & 910 seeing action at Okinawa & Ie Shima. He ended his at service in the China Theatre. He was discharged June 20, 1946.

Jim returned to the Railway Express Agency in Decatur on June 24, 1946. He worked various positions including Relief Agent at Shelbyville & Dolton, Illinois.

FEB. 9, 1952- JUNE 30, 1955- Agent- Salem, Illinois
JULY 1, 1955- JUNE 30, 1959-Agent- Pontiac, Illinois
JULY 1, 1959- AUG. 2, 1959- Relief Agent- Kokomo & Marion, Indiana
AUG. 3, 1959-FEB. 28, 1961- Agent- Columbus, Indiana
MARCH 1, 1961-OCT. 21, 1962 - Agent - Bloomington, Illinois
MAY 6, 1962-May 13, 1962- Relief Agent- Harvey, Illinois
OCT. 22, 1962-MARCH 31, 1964- Air Express MGR- Milwaukee, WI
APRIL 1, 1964-AUG. 8, 1968- MGR- Wausau, Wisconsin
AUG. 9, 1968-MAR. 9, 1969- Supervisor Qty. Control- Milwaukee, WI
MARCH 10, 1969-DEC. 5, 1975- MGR- Wausau, W Wisconsin
REA went Bankrupt Nov. 6, 1975. Also while at Wausau, Jim worked as a Relief Agent in Champaign, Illinois, Minot, North Dakota, Hibbing, Duluth, Mankato & Montevideo, Minnesota & Oshkosh, WI.
JULY 6, 1976-JAN 31, 1987-Crestline Window Mfg. in Wausau, WI- Quality Control- Molder- Assembly
RETIRED FEB 1, 1987

Jim attended Decatur Neon Sign School in 1949 & was a professional sign painter, working part time for several sign companies. He started his own business in Salem, Illinois. He was making good money and would have made a success of it. When the REA realized he was “moonlighting”, they made him choose. Being the father of a growing family, the job with benefits won out in the end.

After retiring for good in 1987, he spent his days pursuing his other lifelong passions, fishing at every opportunity, wood working projects, painting landscapes, talking the ear off to anyone who would listen and spending time with his grandkids, passing along the life lessions and wood working/painting skills to them.

James Siburt (1927)