HURON — James D. Rounds, 94, of Huron, passed away peacefully Sunday, December 3, 2023, at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings.

His Mass of Chrisitan Burial will be 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 7, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish, with burial to follow at St. Martin Cemetery.

Visitation, with his family present, will be from 4 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 6, at Welter Funeral Home. A Rosary and Scripture Service will begin 6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening.

James Denis Rounds was born on Nov. 15, 1929, in Iroquois to Marion and Mary (Engebos) Rounds.  In 1930, Jim’s mother passed away and he went to live with and was raised by his aunts and uncle on the Engebos homestead south of Cavour.

Jim attended Cavour schools, graduating high school in 1947 as a proud Cavour Cougar. He played basketball and ran track in school, but excelled the most at music, especially singing. He met the love of his life, Janice Bergerson at a skating rink while they were in high school. They married on Oct. 14, 1950, at St. Patrick’s in Cavour. Jim and Jan lived on a farm south of Cavour where they raised their family of 13 children. In 1980, the family moved to town where Jim worked for the GSA and was the building superintendent at the federal building. He retired in 1994.

Jim was a member of St. Patrick’s, St. Martin’s, and Holy Trinity Catholic Parish. He was the sexton of St. Martin Cemetery for many years, a job he took great pride in. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus. When his kids were little, he was a 4-H leader, teaching the knowledge of electricity. He and Jan loved to dance and were members of square-dancing clubs including the Cavour Twirlers.

Jim is survived by his wife of 73 years, Janice; his children, Mary Rounds of Tulsa, Okla., Mark Rounds of Huron, Dave Rounds of Midland, Texas, Keith (Cathy) Rounds of Brookings, Kent (Nancy) Rounds of Glenwood, Iowa, Ann (Steve) Salter of Dyersville, Iowa, Jeff Rounds of Huron, Gerry (Barb) Rounds of Aurora, Richard (Melissa) Rounds of Springfield, Ore., Cathy (Dave) Eide of Watertown, and Brad (Toni) Rounds of Huron; 35 grandchildren: Janie, Merrianne, Denise, James, Charles, Kaleb, Aleah, Ashley, Aerial, Jesse, Andrew, Hillary, Eric, Jason, Angee, Nick, Ellyse, Elliot, Nathan, Megan, Molly, Austin, Garret, Isaac, Sarah, Andrea, Mitchel, Benjamin, Jake, Abby, Emily, Luke, Calla, Maddy, and Libby; 47 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild; his sister, Marge Blue of Iroquois; his sister-in-law, Jeanette (Neil) Mees of Huron; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Mary, “The Folks”-Ernest, Clementine, and Emily Engebos; his step-mother, Erna Rounds; his parents-in-law, Toralf and Edna Bergerson; his daughter, Janet Rounds in 1973; and his son, Jabe Rounds in 1992; his grandson, Jabe Austin; and his granddaughter, Elizabeth Wilson; seven brothers Alvin, Gordon, Wesley, Dale, Marion Jr., Don, Robert; and one sister, Ella Mae Drake.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to Holy Trinity Catholic School in honor of Jim.

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