James Sangster

JAMES SANGSTER

Iowa City

James Allan Sangster died peacefully at home surrounded by his family on Saturday, March 21, 2015. Visitation will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 26, at the old gym at City High School. A private family service will be held on Friday.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Jim Sangster Fund for the Betterment of City High.

Jim was born on Feb. 3, 1929, in Austin, Minn. He was the son of Earl Y. and Margheritta McCoy Sangster. He graduated from Iowa City High School in 1947, where he was president of the freshman class, a member of the American Legion Boys State and president of the student council. He lettered in football, basketball and baseball and was All State two years in football and one year in basketball. Jim was one of only three City High athletes to be a starter on state championship football and basketball teams. Jim was a Nile Kinnick scholarship recipient and played quarterback and safety at the University of Iowa. During that time, he was the president of the Intercollegiate Iowa Lettermen's Club.

Jim always said the most important thing that happened in his life was meeting his wife, Jackie, whom he married in Iowa City on June 8, 1951. After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1952, he served two years in the United States Air Force as a lieutenant. In 1954, Jim and Jackie returned to Iowa City where Jim started his career at First National Bank. He became a senior vice president and was on the board of directors. Jim retired in 1994, after 40 years with First National.

Jim served as president of Noon Optimist Club, Iowa Varsity Club, Monday Morning Quarterback Club, Iowa City High School Booster Club and the Johnson County Bankers' Association. He was founder and first president of the City High Alumni Association, serving on the board for over 20 years.

Jim served as treasurer of numerous organizations, including terms as Iowa City treasurer, Iowa City schools treasurer and the Iowa Scholarship Fund Inc. He also served on the board of the Chamber of Commerce, Citizens for a Better Iowa City, the Iowa City Library board and Parks and Recreation. Jim was on the original board of the Iowa Transfer System, which developed the statewide ATM system. He was a member of University of Iowa Presidents Club and the Congregational United Church of Christ, where he served on several boards and as church treasurer.

His love of athletics continued throughout the years when he coached numerous Little League and Babe Ruth teams and served as a volunteer football coach at City High. He was a supporter and friend of City High School and rarely missed a game or event. Jim was involved in some way with City High for most of his life. Jim worked tirelessly for his beloved City High, working on fundraising campaigns, including Stand Up For City High, the City High School Tower Restoration Project, Infield of Dreams, and most recently, the Go To Bat For City High Campaign. Jim was always proud to call himself a Little Hawk.

Jim was the father of three children, Patty Grabinski (Ken), Jim Sangster (Renee) and Bob Sangster (Rhonda); and five grandchildren, Zach Grabinski (Brandy), Whitney Johnson (Scott), Stephanie Grabinski (Joe Graf), Ryan Sangster and Lindsay Gates (Chad). He was the proud great-grandfather of Jackson and Hayes Grabinski, Zachary, Nash and Cruz Johnson and soon-to-arrive twins.

Jim lived his life with integrity, discipline and humility with an everlasting devotion to his family. Whether he was your father, grandfather, friend, banker, coach, mentor or biggest supporter, his loyalty was undying and his friendship was true. He was most often the leader of his teams, be it his family, his beloved City High class of 1947, the teams he played on and coached or the peers he worked with. With each day, his philosophy of life was, "This above all, to thine own self be true."

Jim's family would like to thank all those friends who took time to send cards and emails and to visit Jim during his illness. That continued connection to his friends meant so very much to him. He asked to thank John Bacon and Terry Coleman at City High School and the City High Ambassadors for their kindness. He also wanted to thank the doctors and staff at Mercy Hospital and Hospice for his exceptional care and service and to his good friend, Dr. John Kelley.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.