Racine – Cynthia "Cyndi" Marie James, age 54, beloved wife of John James, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded with the love of her family, on Friday, August 16, 2013 following a courageous 2-month battle with breast cancer.

Cyndi was born in Racine on October 10, 1958 to Thomas Keith Oberst and Ellen (nee: Held) Johnson. She graduated from JI Case High School in 1976 – where she was awarded "Player of the Year" for the Eagles Volleyball Team. Cyndi went on to earn a bachelors degree in Business Management Information Systems from University of Wisconsin – Parkside. On June 8, 1985 she was united in marriage with the love of her life, John S. James.

For the past 25 years, Cyndi was employed by Assurant Health as a senior software engineer in the IT department – a job she truly enjoyed. She was an extremely talented athlete who played city and county league softball & volleyball. Cyndi loved cross-stitching and managing her backyard bird and flower sanctuary. She delighted in many other hobbies such as – reading, photography, listening to music, browsing / researching on the internet and adored being at home.

Surviving are her loving husband, John; son, Donnie James; step-daughter, Tracie (Jeff) Slegers; step-son, Michael (Cindy) James; grandchildren, Zachary Michael James and Anna Claire James; mother, Ellen Marie Johnson; father, Thomas Oberst; sisters, Margie (John) Jensen and Patricia Oberst; brother, Harold Walter "Kip" Humburg; sister-in-law, Susan Lee Koran; nieces, nephews, other relatives, co-workers and friends – too numerous to mention by name. Cyndi was preceded in death by her step-father, Kenneth C. Johnson; and by John's parents, Arthur and Udine James.

A Service of Remembrance will be held in the Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Saturday, August 24, 2013 at 12 noon. For those who wish, please come prepared to share a brief memory or story to share at the service. A reception will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Saturday from 10 am – 12 noon. In memory of Cyndi, memorials to the ASPCA – animal rescue has been suggested.

A heartfelt note of thanks to Dr. Michael Mullane and to Wheaton Franciscan Hospice for the compassionate care and support given to Cyndi during the past two months.