James A. "Jim" Essmiller, 72, passed away March 7, 2018, at Harry Hynes Memorial Hospice, Wichita, Kan.  He was born April 19, 1945, to Fritz Diedrich and Bernice Elaine (Dorshaffer) Essmiller.  Jim married Sandra Sue Hagerman, they were later divorced.  He married Linda (Melton) Stoskopf March 20, 1998, in Las Vegas, NV.

Jim, a life-time resident of Great Bend, was a fourth generation farmer and practiced accounting from 1969 until 1985.  A 1963 graduate of Great Bend High School, Jim graduated from Kansas State University in 1968 with an accounting degree.  He had been a member of the Barton County Conservation Board, Kansas Farm Bureau Board, Corn Growers Association, and the Elks BPO Lodge #1127.  He was formerly active in Barton County 4-H, Trinity Lutheran Church,  Polka Club, and the Cheyenne Twisters Square Dance Club.

Survivors include his wife, Linda of the home; two sons, Kyle Essmiller of Edmond, Okla., John Essmiller and wife Kimberly of South Pasadena, Cal.; one sister, Carol Hawk and husband Gary of Great Bend; and four grandchildren, James Essmiller, Kennedy Essmiller; their mother Kathy Essmiller; Emiko Essmiller, and Kenji Essmiller.  Also surviving are Linda's family, who he loved as his own, two sons, Brad Stoskopf and Kim of Wichita and Brian Stoskopf and wife Whitney of Riverbank, Cal.; four grandchildren, Matthew Stoskopf and wife Jamie, Gregory Stoskopf and wife Kelly, Kevin Stoskopf, and Bryce Stoskopf; and two great grandchildren, Lauren and Sullivan.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 12, 2018, Bryant Funeral Home, with Rev. Lennie Maxwell officiating.  Interment will follow at Great Bend Cemetery North, Great Bend.  Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., Sunday, March 11, 2018, with family receiving friends from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.  Family will also receive friends from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Monday, all at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorial Funds have been established with 4-H Junior Leadership or Barton County Kids Ag Day, in care of Bryant Funeral Home.