James Albert Sterbenz, 90, of Fairway, KS died Thursday, February 27, 2020.

Jim was born to the late Albert and Bertille Sterbenz, August 25, 1929, in Kansas City, MO. Jim graduated from Lillis High School in Kansas City, MO and attended Benedictine College in Atchison, KS. He married Sigrid Lund Waddell in 1958, and they lived in San Francisco two years before returning to the Kansas City area in 1960.

In college, Jim played on the football team and was a cartoonist for the school paper, The Raven. He served in Army Counter Intelligence Corps in the Korean War from 1951 to 1953, and was awarded the Korean Service and United Nations Service Medals.

Jim was predominantly in sales throughout his life, specializing in industrial diamond and commercial abrasive equipment sales. Many friends and associates referred to him as "Diamond Jim", a moniker that he kept his entire life. Later in his career Jim expanded his father's seafood brokerage company, Sterbenz Seafood Sales, and developed a fish-farming concept, Aquaculture Engineering.

Upon retirement, Jim enjoyed being with his family and creating new friendships, regularly playing Texas Hold 'Em in the King City poker league. Even to his last days, he consistently held high-point leader status in the league. He was always a quick wit, a friend to all, and loved to tell jokes to everyone he met.

Jim was fond of fishing, hunting, painting, travel, and was avid music lover. A die-hard Kansas City Royals and Chiefs fan, he loved his home city.  He enjoyed live jazz in town, and was a regular follower of The Five Scamps throughout his adult life.   

He is preceded in death by his parents and his son Angelo Gianello.  He is survived by his former spouse Sigrid Sterbenz, his sister Elizabeth A Sterbenz, his children Deborah A. Sanders, Christopher A. Sterbenz, and Daniel J. Sterbenz (Carolyn), his grandchildren Teresa Gianello-Mendolia (Pete) and Steven Gianello (Christine), Jason Sanders (Emily), Annalise Hodes, Catherine and Emma Sterbenz, great-grandchildren Maddy and Sophia Gianello, Brennon Hodes, and Graham and Waylon Sanders.

We will be forever grateful for Jim's love.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to St. Luke's Hospital of Kansas City.   

A family memorial will be announced at a later date.