Jim Blender is the owner of Bygone's and Buds and is married to his high school sweetheart, Sammy. They graduated from Media High School in 1953.
Jim was born in the country in Hancock County and raised on the family farm in Raritan. The farm is still in the family and is now landscaped beautifully with flowers, plants and trees.
He and Sammy have two children. Jody, who teaches Jr. high is married to Dr. David Purlee and lives in Mt. Carroll. They have three children, Rob who works at Security Savings in Stronghurst, Janel who is a junior at Monmouth College and Kelly who just started attending Cosmetology School in Dubuque. Jim and Sammy's son, Jay Blender, is the Athletic Director and Basketball coach at Southern High School. He is married to Rhonda who works at Dr. Leonard's office in Roseville. They have two children Brandy who is a senior and Brent who is a freshman, both at Southern.
Jim lives in town at Raritan and he loves to garden.