James Edward Bland, Sr.

James E. “Jim” Bland

James “Jim” Edward Bland Sr., age 76, was received into the arms of his Lord and Savior on May 11, 2023, attended by his family.

Jim was born May 17, 1946, in Dallas, Oregon. Born from lineage of some of the Oregon Territory’s earliest settlers, Jim hailed from a long line of Ranchers, Miners, Loggers and Railroaders. Raised in logging camps throughout the Northwest, Jim learned early in life the importance of family, community, discipline, and hard work. As a teen Jim moved to Springfield, Oregon when his father became a regional Vice President for Georgia Pacific Logging. Jim graduated from Springfield High School and enrolled at the University of Oregon while also serving in the U.S. Army Reserve as an Army Drill Instructor and as a weapons and combat readiness expert. Jim honorably completed his Army enlistment and went to work for Weyerhaeuser, before accepting the opportunity to hire on with Southern Pacific Railroad as a Locomotive Engineer in 1972, retiring some 34 years later in 2006. It would be his taming of “Iron Horses” that would eventually bring him to Modoc County where he was introduced to the love of his life and best friend Katrina “Tina” Johnson, the two were married December 17, 1977, in Alturas, California.

Jim loved reading and was an indefatigable life-learner, always expanding his horizons while feeding his inexhaustible craving for history and social sciences. Jim was equally passionate about the outdoors, spending most of his free time farming, hunting, and fishing. His annual hunting trips contained some of Jim’s fondest memories from his childhood as well as his experiences and time spent with his own children as a father exploring the woods and banks of Oregon’s forests, rivers, and lakes. Jim epitomized an unequaled devotion to his family by selflessly giving of himself in support of his children’s pursuits in academics, athletics, 4-H Livestock, and Civil Air Patrol. When Jim was not on a train, he could be found at his home working outside or at some event cheering on his children. Jim also enjoyed traveling with his wife extensively throughout California, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington as well as through the Dakotas, New York, Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, he especially liked historical landmarks and points of interests that he visited while traveling. Some of his favorites included Civil War and Revolutionary battle fields and General George Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, New York, and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.

Jim’s greatest legacy was his faith which influenced every part of his life and character. A follower of Jesus, Jim sought to ensure that his children and grandchildren saw Jesus through his example of unconditional love, grace, compassion, and unwavering presence in the lives of those he loved. Jim’s life as a father was a living example of the father found in the gospel of Luke 15:20-24 while maintaining the very character expressed by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Ephesians 4:32 – “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Jim is survived by his loving wife Katrina Bland, Brothers-in-law Charlie Johnson and Tony Johnson, Sister-in-law Patricia Ziemer, Daughter Claire and husband Cody McNeil, Sons James, Charles ‘Vern’ and wife Erin, Everett, and Herb, and by fifteen grandchildren, one great-grandson, and numerous nieces/nephews. He was proceeded in death by his Son John, parents, mother and father-in-law, two sisters-in-law, and two brothers-in-law.

Please join us in celebrating Jim’s richly blessed life Saturday May 20, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Alturas Baptist Church, 500 West 4th Street, Alturas, California. Reception to follow service.