Visitation for James Idsinga, Sr., 70, of Portales, NM will be Thurs., Oct. 11, 2018 from 4 to 7 PM at Wheeler Mortuary in Portales. Burial will be at 9:00 AM, Fri., Oct. 12, 2018 in the Portales Cemetery. A celebration of his life will be held at 10:00 AM at Emmanuel Baptist Church with Don Thomas officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the New Mexico Christian Children’s Home, 1356 NM 236, Portales, NM 88130 or the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home, P O Box 629, Portales, NM 88130.

James Idsinga, Sr. went home to be in the arms of his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on October 9, 2018. He was born on March 25, 1948, in Artesia, CA to Bill and Anne Idsinga. He was the youngest of the first set of four kids that Pop and Grandma Anne had. Ten years later, His parents had four more kids. He grew up on the dairy, and also worked on his family dairy in Artesia. In 1961, they moved the dairy to Chino, CA. He went to Chino High School, but had to quit school to work on the dairy. He attended night school to earn his high school diploma. He attended Chaffey College and received an Associate’s Degree while working on the dairy. He loved telling stories about taking out all the beautiful girls on Friday night. Then Saturday night he would race his 1965 GTO. He never lost a race except to his brother, Wayne.

Jim asked Joann out when she was only 14. He would see this beautiful girl at the bus stop. Her parents warned her about those Idsinga boys. They were boys who loved fast cars. Well, Joann was the girl for him. They were married Jan. 22, 1970 at Chino Valley Reformed Church.

Jim and Joann were blessed with 39 years of marriage before Joann passed away in 2016. They had four children, Jim, Gina, Cheryl and Andrea.  Jim enjoyed spending his time on the dairy. He started his place in California, and in 1998, moved to Portales, NM with his family, and his brother, Doug and his family to start Idsinga Bros. Dairy. In 2000, Jim and Doug split the partnership, and each family started their own dairy. Jim and Joann became James Idsinga, Sr. and Son Dairy. Jim and Joann were a family partnership, working together running the family business.
Jim and Joann also enjoyed some amazing trips. Probably his favorite trip was his trip to Holland with his cousin and brothers that showed them Lollium, Friesland where his dad immigrated from.

Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson ten years ago, and Dementia three years ago. He always enjoyed seeing his family and grandkids.

Jim was a kind, loving father to his son, Jim Idsinga, Jr. and wife, Alyssa of Portales; daughter, Gina De Groot and husband, Dean of Canyon, TX, daughter, Cheryl Barber and husband, Clayton of Portales, and daughter, Andrea Idsinga and Justin Rhoads of Torrance, CA.

He was the best “Paka” to seven grandchildren, James Michael Idsinga, Ashlynn and Cody Mason, Berdena and Bert De Groot, Cree Barber and Dylan Rhoads.

He was dearly loved and will be missed, but the family is blessed to know he is in heaven with Jesus, and that they will see him again someday.