Stanley James “Jim” Harless
Stanley James “Jim” Harless, DVM Dec. 19, 1931 – Oct. 20, 2026
Jim was born in Gresham, NE, to Stanley and Margaret (Johnson) Harless, and grew up on a farm with his older sister, Delores. He graduated from Stromsburg High School. On February 24, 1952, Jim married DeEtt Mentink, and they farmed southwest of Stromsburg. Their first child, Glenn, was born in December that same year, and soon thereafter Jim was drafted into the Army. When home on leave, shortly before he was to ship out to Korea, Jim contracted polio. He spent the next two years recovering in Army and VA hospitals, during which he also contracted tuberculosis. Jim was discharged from the hospital in March 1955 and, unable to farm, the family moved to Ames, IA, where he enrolled at Iowa State University.
There they were blessed with two more children; Mark was born in 1956, and Londa was born in 1960. During the next six years DeEtt made a home for Jim and the kids in military surplus barracks used for married student housing. After Jim graduated with honors in May 1960 with his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, the family moved to Boston, MA, where he was awarded a prestigious internship at Angell Memorial Animal Hospital. For the next two years he worked at clinics in Denver, CO, and in Omaha, whereupon Jim opened Harless Animal Clinic in Rockbrook Shopping Center and later built Harvey Oaks Animal Hospital where he practiced until he retired. Jim was a gifted clinician who loved animals and treated them with compassion, kindness, and excellence. During his career, he helped to pioneer new treatments for animals and held numerous patents for veterinary products.
Jim and DeEtt lived in the Rockbrook neighborhood for many years where they raised their children. In 2004 they moved to Lakewood Villages in Papillion, and in 2022 to Richmont Terrace in Bellevue. This last June, Jim moved to Hillcrest Cottages where he passed away peacefully on October 20 and was welcomed into his heavenly home by his Savior.
A life-long follower of Jesus Christ, Jim was blessed by the pastors, ministries, and dear friends from both Lutheran Church of the Master in Omaha and Thanksgiving Church in Bellevue. He was an active member of small group Bible studies and life groups, served on church councils, was a Gideon, and attended Bible Study Fellowship. Jim put his faith in Christ alone, believing that there was nothing that he could do to earn, merit, or purchase his own salvation. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who was a blessing to his family.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, DeEtt; his daughter, Londa Sanburg; his parents, Stanley and Margaret Harless; his brother-inlaw and sister, Laird and Delores Hengelfelt; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Leonard and Carmelita Mentink; and his brother-inlaw and sister-in-law, Wayne and Doris Mentink.
He is survived by his children, Rev. Glenn (Suzanne) Harless; Mark (Lenae) Harless; his sonin- law, Sean Sanburg; and by his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Marisa (John) Houghland (Jacob, Noah, Hannah, Maria); Siri (Trevor) Peterson (Levi, Ayla, Liam); Jon (Courtney) Harless (James, Ethan, Luke); Paul (Danielle) Harless (Henrik, Soren, Signe, Harold);Annika (Cole) Perkins (Crew, Nora); Paige (Rian) Suiter (Harlow, Tenley); Blair Hume (son Lucas); and Laine (Chris) Skeen (Lauren, Lucy, Jack).
Visitation will be Friday, November 27, from 5-7 pm, at Heafey- Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler West Center Chapel, 7805 W. Center Road in Omaha.
AMemorial Service is scheduled for Saturday, November 28, 11:00 am, at Thanksgiving Church in Bellevue, 3702 370th Plaza.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Gideons International, or Thanksgiving Church.