James H. Bohlender

James H. Bohlender, 86, of Guthrie Center, Iowa, was born on April 23, 1939, the son of Harold and Thelma (Lundstrom) Bohlender. He passed away peacefully with family by his side on March 10, 2026, at the New Homestead in Guthrie Center.

Jim grew up on farms near Menlo and south of Guthrie Center. He graduated from Guthrie Center High School in 1957, where he played basketball and football. He worked for the Iowa Highway Commission and later as parts manager at Hogan Chevrolet before marrying Joan Harris of Panora in April 1959. Together they raised three children: Deborah, Cindy, and Rod. In 1966, Jim formed a farming partnership with his father, Harold, who passed away just four months later. Jim was an avid bowler and rolled the first perfect game at the Guthrie Center bowling alley in 1979. He served on the Guthrie Center Extension Board, as president of the Guthrie Center Bowlers Association, and as president of the Booster Club.

In 1992, Jim married Lynda (Werner) Schreck. The couple lived in Indianola from 1993 to 2006, where Jim worked at the Ready Mix Plant and advanced to plant manager before retiring. They returned to his family farm in Guthrie Center, where he realized his longtime dream of establishing a cow-calf herd and farming alongside his grandson, Clay Blass. In his later years, despite chronic back problems that limited his mobility, Jim enjoyed quiet days watching neighbors pass by from his recliner and remained a devoted fan of his family, his farm, his country, and the Iowa Hawkeyes, often traveling with Lynda to games in Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Thelma; daughter Deborah Rosenbeck; stepson John Schreck; sister and brother-in-law Betty and Larry Billick; brother Charles J. Bohlender; father- and mother-in-law John and Dardy Werner; and brothers-in-law John and Mark Werner. Jim is survived by his wife, Lynda; daughter Cindy (Steve) Blass of Coon Rapids; son Rod (Tracy) Bohlender of Polk City; step-sons Doug (Holly) Schreck of Clive and Kevin (Marcie) Schreck of Guthrie Center; step-daughter Sheila (Clint) Dickey of Cedar Falls; 19 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.