Memorial

James was a charter member of Council 6478. He was born in McLoud, OK to John Sylvester Seikel and Anna B. McNamara, youngest of eight children, and passed away on January 21, 2012, at his home, peacefully, with family. Jim attended Oklahoma A&M and Benedictine College (Atchison, KS), where he met the love of his life, Bernadette Haegelin. He served his country in WWII in the Pacific Theater as a member of the U.S. Navy, from which he was honorably discharged. He married Bernadette on December 31, 1945, in Atchison, KS. Jim loved the city of Yukon and the people thereof. His friends stretched far from the city and he often spoke fondly of them. He moved to Yukon in 1954, where he opened Seikel's Redbud grocery. In 1966, he began a career in insurance and investments, an industry he served until his death. Jim was a lifelong Catholic who lived his faith daily. Jim and Bernadette received the Cross Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice (for the Church and the Pontiff). He was devoted to his family as a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; seven siblings; wife, Bernadette; and daughter, Sara. He is survived by Mary Ann & John Kasmeier, Chris & C Seikel, Susan & Alan Line, Marty & Terri Seikel, Teresa & Mike Bookout, Cathy & Robert Wedman, Jamie & Tom Kilpatrick, Jim Seikel; 16 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews