James was born January 30,1933, to James Rolland Griggs, Sr. and Myrtle Calvert Griggs in Sturgeon, Missouri. He married Janet Elhard April 24, 1960, in Knoxville, Iowa. He served as a Cpl. in the U.S. Army for eight years as a core engineer. He received Korean Service, United Nations, and National Defense medals. After his time serving our country, he became a self-employed painter. His hobbies included gardening, fishing, and hunting. Survivors include his wife, Janet of Columbia, Missouri, five sons, Glenn Foerster of Searsboro, Iowa, Garry Foerster of Columbia, Terry Foerster of Columbia, Neal Griggs of Grinnell and James Grigg, Jr. of Grinnell, three daughters, Ann Griggs of Springfield, Missouri, Carmen Swatosh of Joplin, Missouri, and Deborah Foerster of Carterville, Missouri, two brothers, Herbert Griggs of Columbia and Tommy Forest of Lebannon, Missouri, one sister, Margie Meyers of Cadiz, Kentucky, grandchildren, David Foerster, D.J. Griggs, Tyler Foerster, Mandy Ransom, Brandi Siefkas, Kelly Smith, Ben Schwarck, and Jeremy Schwarck, all of Grinnell, Iowa, and Kim Dixon and Krystal Anderson of Bloomfield, Iowa and 22 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his mother and father, and two brothers, William and Paul Griggs, and one sister, Mazel Ward.