James E. “Jim” Lancaster, life-long Franklin County banker and retired dairyman, passed away September 27, 2025, at Olathe Hospice House in Olathe, Kansas at the age of 85.Jim was born at Ransom Memorial Hospital, Ottawa, Kansas to Glenn Edward and Ruth Frances (Hougland) Lancaster on July 20, 1940.
He graduated from Ottawa High School in 1958. While attending Ottawa High School, he was very active in FFA holding several officer positions including chapter Vice-President. He also played football and basketball at Ottawa High School.
Jim was very active in the community starting with membership in Jayhawk 4-H club and later serving as club leader for Trailblazers 4-H. He served on the Franklin County Extension Council for several years and as President two terms. Jim served several years as treasurer for the Franklin County Fair Board and was a life member of Ottawa Optimist Club where he was a past president. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Ottawa for over sixty years where he held several positions including Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
After high school, he attended Kansas State University where he studied Animal Science and Dairy Production. He then returned to the family farm where he was in partnership with his father in Lancaster and Son Dairy.
He later changed employment and started working at Ottawa Coop as feed store manager. He then started working in the banking industry as Vice-President and field representative at Ottawa Production Credit. From there, he became branch manager at Franklin Savings at 7th and Main in Ottawa. When Franklin closed, he moved to Vice-President of First National Bank of Ottawa. He remained with that bank thru several name changes and retired from Intrust Bank in 2005.
In 1961, Jim joined the Kansas Army National Guard. He served ten years with headquarters division at Ottawa, Kansas where he was a Staff Sargent.
On February 4, 1962, Jim was united in marriage to Virginia Carey at Princeton United Methodist Church. They shared more than sixty-three years of life and love. To this marriage two sons were born, Tim Lancaster and Dr. Trent Lancaster.
Jim enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid golfer and fisherman. He also enjoyed deer hunting, snow skiing, and woodworking. He was a die hard KSU football fan and was a fifty plus year season ticket holder. Jim was a dedicated fan of fishing in Northwest Ontario, Canada traveling there twenty-eight years to fish for walleye.
He and Virginia spent fifteen years as winter Texans in Alamo, Texas where Jim spent many hours in the woodshop perfecting his woodworking skills.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and grandparents Elmer and Bertha Lancaster and Aaron and Bertha Hougland.
He is survived by his wife Virginia; sons Tim Lancaster (Brenda) of Lake Lotawana, Missouri and Dr. Trent Lancaster (Jody) of Ottawa, Kansas; four grandchildren Tate Lancaster (fiancé Gracie Fitzgerald) of Overland Park, Kansas, Hope Lancaster of Shawnee, Kansas, Maddy Srna (Josh) of Gardner, Kansas, and Cooper Lancaster of Sabetha, Kansas; great granddaughter Parker Lee Srna; and brother John Lancaster (Ellen) of Redfield, Kansas.
Services will be held at 10am Friday, October 3, 2025 at the First United Methodist Church, Ottawa, Kansas. Family will greet friends from 5:30-7:30pm, Thursday, October 2, 2025, at Dengel & Son Mortuary, Ottawa.
Interment Highland Cemetery, Ottawa, Kansas.
Memorial contributions may be made to the KSU Foundation to be used for the Lancaster Family Scholarship, fund N76234. This scholarship is used to help Franklin County students attend Kansas State University. Contributions may be sent to: KSU Foundation, 1800 Kimball Ave., Ste 200, Manhattan, Kansas 66502, please indicate fund N76234. To make a gift online, go to www.ksufoundation.org/give/memorials.
