James D. French, 93, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Thursday, December 26, 2024.

Livingston-Sondermann Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.

To honor his wishes, cremation was chosen.

Graveside service will be held 11:00 a.m., Thursday, April 24, 2025 at Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell, Nebraska.

Memorials are kindly suggested to the family, to be designated at a later date.

James was born on February 2, 1931, three miles east of Primose, Nebraska to Merle L. & Mary (Burda) French.

He graduated from Cedar Rapids High School in 1950. James worked for the Cedar Press Newspaper.

He enlisted into the United States Air Force in 1951 and shipped out to Laon Couvron Air Force Base in France. He worked on radar with B26 Light Bomber while in France. He was honorably discharged from the United States Air Force in 1955.

James was united in marriage to Paulette Thouant on April 12, 1955. The couple settled in Cedar Rapids. James set up a shop and worked on TV's, then to Jackson's Motors as a mechanic and finally became station manager at the Coop until his retirement in 1994.

He is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, James M. & Elizabeth French; two grandchildren, Nicholas and Tania (wife Michaela); three great- grandchildren, Cameron, Braedyn and Emma; one great-great-grandchild, Hudson Grey.

There was 5 generations in this family – James D., James M., Nicholas, Cameron, Hudson Grey.

James is preceded in death by his parents, Merle and Mary, his wife, Paulette; and a sister, Rosemary Mlady.

Condolences to the family and sharing of tributes may be signed at www.livson.com.