James Russell Commander 1917 - 2005

RUSSELL, COMMANDER, RENINGER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 1/30/2019 at 21:49:56

Sioux City Journal
6 November 2005

James R. Commander, 88, of Sioux City died Friday, Nov. 4, 2005, at Sunrise Retirement Community.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Luke Lutheran Church, with the Revs. Krishen Persaud and Craig Bock officiating. Burial will be in Graceland Park Cemetery, with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 662 of Sergeant Bluff. Visitation will be 3 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel (formerly Nelson-Berger Morningside Chapel).

James Russell Commander was born in Philadelphia, Miss., on Oct. 1, 1917, the son of James Ralston and Euna Mildred (Russell) Commander. He served in the U.S. Army for four years during World War II in Patton's 3rd Army in the European Theater. He had many decorations for his military service, including three battle stars.

He married Arvilla M. Reninger, formerly of Homer, Neb., on July 9, 1944, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Sioux City. He was employed for many years by Sioux City Stockyards Company, retiring in 1982. His family lived in Sioux City for 31 years before moving to Sergeant Bluff in 1976, moving back to Sioux City in 1999.

He was a member of St. Luke Lutheran Church for 50 years and was also a member of Masonic Lodge, A.F. and A.M. No. 615 Morningside, Masonic Lodge Stockyards Drill Team, Scottish Rites Consistory of Sioux City and American Legion Post 662 of Sergeant Bluff and a former member of Community Advisory Board for Disabled. He was an avid fisherman and expert hunter, a great dancer and card player. His greatest love was to be surrounded by his family.

Survivors include his wife, Arvilla; a daughter, Kathleen Torbensen of Sioux City; a son, Eugene R. and his wife, Linda Commander, of Centennial, Colo.; four grandchildren, Claire M. Torbensen of Wasilla, Alaska, Beth and her husband, Michael Dubbelde, of Larchwood, Iowa, Kristen Commander of Columbia, Mo. and Matthew Commander of Centennial; three great-grandchildren, James, Lee and Curtis Dubbelde, all of Larchwood; a sister-in-law, Mary Sue Commander of Brookhaven, Miss.; a nephew, Keith Allen Welch, who was reared as a brother, and his wife, Mary Ann, of Greenville, Miss.; three nieces, Mildred Ann and her husband, James Herring, Sue Carol and her husband, Cecil Trantham, and Patsy Marie and her husband, Howard Vaughn, all of Brookhaven.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dr. Willard M. Commander; and a sister, Ida Mary Lott.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.