James "Jim" Whitaker, age 87, of Anamoose, North Dakota, passed away on Sunday, April 26, at his home, surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services will be held at the Hertz Funeral Home of Harvey on Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

Jim was born in 1939 in St. Paul, Minnesota, and was lovingly adopted by Lee and Eleanor Whitaker and attended school in Anamoose, North Dakota, where he also grew up on the family farm

Following the passing of his father, Lee, in 1951, Jim was raised by his mother, Eleanor. She later married Edmund Braun, who was a very good father to him.  Edmund and Jim farmed together for many years and farming remained a central part of Jim's life. He also worked in road construction and held several other jobs throughout his lifetime, including serving as a safety inspector.

December 4th 1967, Jim married the love of his life, Marlene (Lund) Whitaker, and together they built a life filled with love, adventure, and shared passions. They welcomed their daughter, Misty, in 1973. Jim and Marlene loved to travel and spent many years traveling the United States, often driving  home cars for a friend he worked for. They also enjoyed attending auction sales, collecting antiques, and visiting the many good friends they made through the years.

Jim had a lifelong passion for old cars, tractors, and glass collectibles. He also enjoyed fishing and hunting with his friends. Each year, he looked forward to deer hunting with the Wagner party and was grateful to take one final hunt this past November before his cancer progressed.

One of Jim's greatest joys was his granddaughter, Lilly Fry. He delighted in giving her tractor rides and let her drive his pickup truck long before her feet could reach the pedals. Jim was immensely proud of Lilly and that she was attending NDSU and in the accounting program.

Jim was an avid reader of the news and enjoyed discussing history, the stock market and politics with his daughter Misty. Jim also shared a special bond with his son-in-law, Jon Fry, whom he loved like a son. The two spent many hours together talking about cars and how to fix them.

Jim is survived by his devoted wife, Marlene Whitaker; his daughter, Misty (Whitaker) Fry; his son-in-law, Jon Fry; and his beloved granddaughter, Lilly Fry.

He was preceded in death by his father, Lee Whitaker; his mother, Eleanor Braun; his stepfather, Edmund Braun; and his sister, Margaret (Whitaker) Bachmeier..  Arrangements are with Hertz Funeral Home of Harvey.