James Dennis Lubben

1948 - 2025

Senior Deputy James Lubben (75-5R), 76, of Le Mars, Iowa, died on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Celebration of Life Service will be at 1:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.  Burial with military honors provided by the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 of Le Mars will be at Reshaven Memory Gardens in Le Mars.  Visitation with the family present will be from noon until service time on Tuesday at the funeral home.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa.  

In lieu of flowers and gifts, memorials can be made in Jim’s name to Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

James Dennis Lubben, the son of Henry ‘Bud’ and Ruth (Cooper) Lubben, was born on August 30, 1948, in Le Mars, Iowa. He attended school in Le Mars and graduated from Le Mars Community High School in 1966. He attended college at Augustana College in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

He enlisted in the United States Navy. He served his country while being stationed in Pensacola, Florida. Following his discharge from the service, he began his career in law enforcement. He started in Sioux Falls before going to Woodbury County, Iowa. 

He was united in marriage to Mary Lee on April 3, 1976, in Salix, Iowa. They made their home in Sgt. Bluff before moving to California and later to Oregon, both where Jim worked in law enforcement. In 1988, he started as a deputy for the Plymouth County Sheriff's Office. He worked for them for 26 years before his retirement in 2014.

Jim was a proud member of the N.R.A. and the Wasmer American Legion Post 241 in Le Mars. He enjoyed sharpening knives and scissors. His greatest joy was his grandchildren. He enjoyed watching them participate in all of their activities. 

Survivors include his wife, Mary of Le Mars, IA; a son: Dan Lubben of Le Mars and his children, Jasmine, Haley, and Dylan; a daughter: Misty (Kelly) Hanks of Le Mars and their children, Malayna and Kaden; his sister: Diane (LeRoy) Langstraat of Ireton, IA; his in laws: Gregory (Julie) Lee of Mason City, IA, Stephen (Chris) Lee of Ogden, IA, Terry (Ann) Lee of Howard, SD, Patrick Lee of Chowchilla, CA, Kathleen (Augustine) Martinez of Bentonville, AR, Barbara (Steve) Frankele of San Antonio, TX, Jennifer (Douglas) Fonteyne of Madison Heights, VA, and Linda Zahnow of Kennedale, TX; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his father and mother-in-law, Patrick and Shirley Lee; and his in laws, Dawn Kasch, David Lee, and Robert Lee.