James A. Emil

James A Emil, Sr., 81, Mandan, North Dakota, passed away surrounded by family, Wednesday, August 23, 2017, at Sanford Health, Bismarck, North Dakota. Inurnment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan at 2:00 PM, Friday, August 25, 2017. A Celebration of Life gathering will then follow at the Mandan Moose, 111 11th Avenue NE, Mandan.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be sent to North Dakota Veteran Cemetery: 1825 46th St, Mandan, ND 58554.

James was born May 15, 1936, at Mandan, North Dakota, to Anton and Eva (Braun) Emil. He was raised and educated in Mandan where he attended Mandan High School and later attended Bismarck State College. He entered the Air Force in 1953, and was based at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. He rose to Staff Sargent before his discharge. James was an avid hunter and fisherman, loved to garden and was a passionate fan of the Minnesota Twins, Vikings, and whomever was playing the Packers.

He is survived by daughters, Paula (Kenny) Bitz, Linton, and Peggy (Linn) Thomas, Mandan; step daughters, Brenda (Kori) Schantz, Underwood, and Debbie Berger (Jeff), Bismarck; sons, Jim(Cory) Emil, Andover, Minnesota, and Sheldon Emil and partner Kim Hayes, Fargo; step son David (Wendy) Berger, Mandan; 16 grandchildren, April (Chris), Audrey (Dean), Ammy (Tony), Jeremy (Tannis), Justin, Amanda (Stephen), Alise (Ryan), Kelsey, Kyrstin (Robert), Cainen, Carter, Cloey, Charli, Blake, Emily, and Jack; 10 great grandchildren, Abriana, Crimson, Tydus, Cooper, Logan, Dakota, Silas, Conor, Madison, and Diesel; numerous nieces and nephews; and his first wife Jackie Pearson.

James was preceded in death by his parents; second wife Peggy; brothers Ted and Jerry; and granddaughter Jessica.

Please sign his guestbook and share memories at www.dawiseperry.com. Funeral arrangements are being made with DaWise-Perry Funeral Services, Mandan, North Dakota.