He was born April 11, 1918 in Banks Township, the son of Mettus and Adrianna (DeYoung) Rubingh. He grew up on the family farm near Ellsworth and attended the Mitchell School.

On April 20, 1944, he married Gertrude Kortman in Lucas, and they made their home on their farm in Banks Township.

James loved farming, and after completing the ninth grade he quit school to work on the farm which he enjoyed his whole life. He sold the family farm to his two sons Gary and Glenn in 1979. He enjoyed working with horses, going to horse-pulling contests and auction sales.

He was a lifelong member of the Ellsworth Christian Reformed Church where he served as an elder and deacon. He was also active in the Gideons, Antrim County Farm Bureau and Michigan Milk Producers Association (MMPA). He served as a 4-H leader and on the Antrim Soil Conservation District (ASCD) board, Ellsworth Farmers Exchange board, and Michigan Animal Breeders Association.

Surviving are his wife Gertrude; children Allen (Ardith) Rubingh of Hudsonville, Gary (Rebecca) Rubingh of Ellsworth, Janice Bordner of Norfolk, Va., Glenn (Gail) Rubingh of Ellsworth; 11 grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; brothers Julius (Geraldine) Rubingh of Belmont, Henry (Marian) Rubingh of Wyoming, Mich., Martin (Virginia) Rubingh of Ellsworth. He was preceded by a sister, Henrietta Rubingh.

The funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 19, at the Ellsworth Christian Reformed Church with the Rev. Carl J. Afman officiating. Burial will be in Ellsworth Cemetery.

For memorial contributions, the family suggests Ebenezer Christian School or the Gideons.

"We thank the Lord for blessing him with a long life. He would have been 90 years old on April 11. He is home with Jesus in heaven and reunited with loved ones who have gone on before. We celebrate his life and hold him dear to our hearts."