James "Jim" Myron Holy

James “Jim” Myron Holy, born in Tyndall, SD May 13, 1937, to Joseph and Elsie (Bartikowsky) Holy, passed away September 9th, 2025 at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton, surrounded by his loving and devoted family.

Visitation begins at 9:00 a.m., followed by a 10:30 a.m. funeral service, Monday, September 15, 2025 at Goglin Funeral Home in Yankton. Inurnment at the Yankton City Cemtery, will take place at a later date. 

Jim was a hard-working man; his ethics were instilled upon him by his doting parents, Joe and Elsie. He attended school in Tyndall, SD as well as California elementary during the war where he made life long friendships. He was a tried-and-true Tyndall Panther where he was active in football and track. He attended college at SSTC in Springfield, SD where his course of study was drafting. While there he was also involved in the SD National Guard, where he was honorably discharged in January of 1959. When it came to his employment, he was a man of many hats. He learned to perfect his gravedigging skills with his parents as he was a 3rd generation gravedigger. He worked on the road crews that were responsible for building Interstates through South Dakota and Nebraska. He also worked building the Oahe Dam in Pierre, South Dakota. His father advised him to save his hard-earned money and not spend it on fast cars and women. So, Jim, his father and a family friend invested in land at Running Water, South Dakota. Jim also purchased a fast car (Model A). He and his cousin were driving on the frozen Missouri river when his car broke through the ice. Of course, this produced a large crowd of onlookers when the wrecker showed up to pull them out. He met the love of his life, Sharon Lee Sharp. They married December 19th, 1963, and lived in Tyndall until moving to Yankton in 1967. He found employment with the City of Yankton in the Parks and Recreation Department where he was the Sexton for the City Cemetery. While holding down a full-time job with the City of Yankton, he had his own Gravedigging business for the surrounding areas. Over his lifetime he tried his hand at worm farming, collecting the elusive morel mushroom as well as trying to perfect growing them in captivity. He enjoyed fishing, canoeing, riding his recumbent bike, playing bingo, shooting black powder cannons, writing funny poems, songs, drawing, and doodling. He also loved playing pranks and jokes, along with scaring his children. He had many interesting occupations but his most rewarding job was raising his family. He was their number one cheerleader. He had a quick wit and friendly disposition that was hard to resist.

He is survived by his children: Karla (Holy) and Leland Jensen of Nebraska, Karen Holy and Daniel Pavel of South Dakota, Joseph E. Holy and William “Bill” Bounds of Iowa; his grandchildren: Gatlin Jensen, Zane Jensen, Michael Darcy, Patricia (Darcy) Holy and Mathew (McCoy) Holy and Joseph J. Holy and Shy-Ann Miles; great-grandchildren: Alidda, Dakotah, Gideon, Autmn, Sharon, Forrest, Emmalee, Maverick, Bentley, and Braxten; his sister, Mae Shaffer; nieces, Marie (Shaffer) Levine and Pamela (Shaffer) Beltramini.

Jim is preceded in death by brother, Joey Holy; parents, Joe and Elsie Holy and wife, Sharon Lee (Sharp) Holy.