He was born Nov. 22, 1938, in Fillmore, the son of Marvin and Gladys (Stout) Spears. He attended grade school in Deer Grove and was a graduate of Tampico High School. Jim married Carol Wolber on June 29, 1958.

He began his working career from August 1956 to July 1958, when he worked for the Tampico Creamery delivering bottled milk to surrounding communities. In July 1958 until April 1960, he owned his own truck and hauled canned milk to the Tampico Creamery. From April 1960 until September 1974, he worked at Cady Harvestore in Yorktown. From September 1974 until January 1981, he worked as an over-the-road driver for Rock River Cartage in Rock Falls. In January 1981, he went to work for Clark Harvestore in Galesburg as operations manager, running the dealership until 1985. He and his wife moved in 1985 to Tipton, Iowa, to manage the Cady Farmstore and moved back to this area in 2004.

Jim was a member of the Tipton Lions Club, where in 1999 he was awarded the International Presidents Award, and was a past member of the Tampico Fire Department. He enjoyed woodworking and restoring antiques.

Surviving are his wife, Carol; two sons, Bill (Connie) Spears of Tampico and Raymond (Deb) Spears of Princeton; two brothers, Marvin Spears of Amboy and Jerry (Barb) Spears of Sheffield; one sister, MaryAnn (Marvin) Murphy of Port Byron; three grandchildren, Jeramie (Taylor) Spears of Wyanet, Nicole (Thad) Lartz of Rock Falls, and Brad (Brittany) Spears of Sterling; three stepgrandchildren, Cyndi (Jason) Dunn of Kansas City, Kevin (Sarah) Sights of Wyanet, and Sarah (Jayce) Miller of Bradford; one great-grandchild, Brianne Spears; and six step-great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Otto and Roger Spears.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Tipton Lions Club, Tampico Fire Department, and Prophetstown Fire and Ambulance.