James "Jimmy" Neil Bond, 57, Osage City, Kan., passed away Thursday, March 10, 2011, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center in Kansas City. Jimmy was born on Dec. 6, 1953, in Topeka, Kan., the son of Clyde and Josephine Plake Bond. He spent his early life in Osage City before moving to Lawrence and graduating from Lawrence High School. He spent most of his life in the Kansas City area before moving back to Osage City in 2009. Jimmy was a commercial artist and musician. After graduating from Kansas State University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree Jim found success working for several companies in the Kansas City area and independently, winning several awards and his art work displayed in art museums in Omaha, Neb., and Springfield, Mo. In recent years he would find appreciation for his sketchings. Learning to sing at a very early age Jim would sing for clubs and organizations in his home town of Osage City. Then when in Junior High School he and friends would form their first band, The Vikings. The Vikings and later The Emperials would play for local dances in and around the area. Later, after some changes, they would then call themselves The Rain and would expand out to other areas in the Midwest. Beginning in 1971 he would perform with Plain Jane, being accomplished playing many different instruments, his strength would however remain with his vocal ability. This band went through personnel and style changes, but were always one the hottest bands around. Based in Topeka, Manhattan, and Kansas City over about a decade, they were led by Jimmy and appeared on the soundtrack of the movie "Zapped." After the band disbanded, Jimmy became a founding member of KC's very successful Liverpool, a Beatles tribute band, until his health forced him to drop out a few years ago. Jimmy was inducted into the Kansas Music Hall of Fame in February, 2010 with Plain Jane. Survivors include a son, Billy Reiling and wife Allison, Olathe; a brother, Tom Bond and wife Becky, Troy; three grandchildren, Will Reiling, Adrienne Reiling and Aubrey Reiling; a niece, Jane McCarthey and husband Justin, St. Joseph, Mo.; and two nephews, Chris Bond and wife Michelle, Karney, Neb., and Pete Bond and wife Deanna, Cincinnati, Ohio. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Richard Bond. Memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday, March 19, at VanArsdale Funeral Chapel in Osage City. The family will receive friends an hour before service time at the funeral chapel. Inurnment will be at Washington Creek Cemetery, northeast of Overbrook. Memorial contributions can be made to James Neil Bond Memorial Fund and sent in care of the funeral home at 107 N. Sixth, Osage City, KS 66523.
