Many of us received the devastating news that our former colleague, James W. White, passed away on Saturday, November 4, 2023, at 35 years old.

He is survived by his wife Keria and their 9-month-old daughter Leighton Kristine White.

For those of us who worked with James, we knew him to be full of life and fearless. He worked tirelessly to support others as their zealous advocate and caring friend. He enjoyed training for marathons and would have run through brick walls if it meant helping someone in need. He approached everything with passion and dedication. James never backed down from a challenge, never failed to speak up, and never failed to protect the things and people he cared about. Everyone knew James had a fighting spirit (it was the wrestler in him), but the lucky few knew he had a gentle heart, too, and just cared so, so much. He was passionate, he was strong, and he lived his life with so much empathy for other people. But none of those passions could compare with the birth of his daughter.

After James announced that Keria was pregnant, it seemed like Leighton was all he talked about, thought about, and dreamed about. Every day James would share pictures of Leighton and tell us how much joy it brought him to be her father.

In memory of James and to support his daughter, a Go Fund Me account has been set up to help the family and save for Leighton's future.

Thank you for being part of his life and helping his family through this difficult time.

Feel free to share this link, so others can help James’ family in their time of need.

• Visitation will be held on Monday, November 13, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton, located at 310 N. 2nd Ave. E., Newton, IA 50208.

• The funeral service will be on Tuesday, November 14, 2023, at 11:00 a.m., also at the Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton. Burial will follow the funeral service at Mt. Zion in rural Newton.

Thank you, and please take care of yourself and each other.