Jim Brothers, a local sculptor known throughout the world for his contributions to national war memorials and his depictions of American historic figures, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer. He was 72.

photo by: Unknown

Jim Brothers, 1983

photo by: Mike Yoder

Jim Brothers with his life-size sculpture of Mark Twain, now in Hartford, Connecticut.

Plains Destiny by Jim Brothers

photo by: Mike Yoder

'Chicken Crossing the Road".Jim Brothers sculpture outside his North Lawrence studio.

'Captain'. by Jim Brothers.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Jim Brothers sculpture near City Market in Kansas City, Mo.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Bronze sculpture by Jim Brothers.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Bronze horses sculpture by Jim Brothers

photo by: Mike Yoder

Flight.At GE Aircraft in St. Louis, Missouri.

photo by: Mike Yoder

"Endangered Spieces" by Jim Brothers

photo by: Mike Yoder

Dancing elephants.by Jim Brothers.

photo by: Mike Yoder

"Endangered Spieces" by Jim Brothers

'Protector of the Plains' by Jim Brothers

photo by: Mike Yoder

Bronze sculpture by Jim Brothers

photo by: Mike Yoder

A foundation dedicated to promoting the works of "Black Elk Speaks" author John Neihardt has picked Lawrence scultptor Jim Brothers to create a statute in the author and his subject's honor. A quick study in clay of the proposed piece at Brothers North Lawrence studio depicts Black Elk and John Neihardt on Harney Peak in the Black Hills of South Dakota where Black Elk described to Neihardt his great vision later written about in Neihardts book Black Elk Speaks. (November 2005).

photo by: Nick Krug

Jim Brothers works the cow bells during a performance by the Alferd Packer Memorial String Band Wednesday, April 15, 2009.

The Alferd Packer Memorial String Band performs in Baldwin in 2005. The band was founded by Jim Brothers in 1979. From left are musicians Matt Kirby, Steve Mason, Lauralynn Bodle, Steve Goeke, Mike Yoder and Jim Brothers.

photo by: Scott McClurg

Jim Brothers, of The Alfred Packer Memorial String Band plays the mouth harp for tax filing revlers at the downtown post office. Last minute tax filers were greeted annually on tax night by the band for over 20 years for the midnight filing deadline. Jim Brothers founded the Alferd Packer Memorial String Band in 1979. (File photo 2003)

photo by: Mike Yoder

Sculptor Jim Brothers, Lawrence, KS. is the principal sculptor for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, VA., and has completed over eight, larger than life-size pieces depicting WWII soldiers landing on the beaches of Normandy on D-Day. Brothers also completed a sculpture of former President and General Dwight D. Eisenhower that was placed in the United States Capitol in June of 2003. The original clay sculpture of Eisenhower stands behind Brothers. (File photo from May 2003.)

photo by: Unknown

This statue of Eisenhower, by Lawrence artist Jim Brothers, was given to the National Statuary Hall Collection by Kansas in 2003 and dedicated in June. His statue replaced that of George W. Glick and marked the first time that a state had replaced one of its statues.Courtesy of the Architect of the Capitol.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence sculptor Jim Brothers works on figures of a World War II medic following a soldier onto the shores of France on D-Day, June 6, 1946. Brothers is the principal sculpture for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., and these pieces will be added to his eight figures already at the memorial. Visible in the background is a sculpture in process of General Dwight D. Eisenhower who led Allied forces in WWII. The statue of Ike will be for display at the U.S. Capitol.(File photo from June 2002)..

photo by: Mike Yoder

An aerial view of the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va., in June 2001. Jim Brothers has been the chief sculptor and completed several sculptures including his largest piece, "Scaling the Wall", just to the right and below the yellow crane visible left of center. The sculpture depicts four Rangers climbing the cliffs at Pointe du Hoc in Normandy, France during the D-Day invasion June 6, 1944.

photo by: Mike Yoder

At the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va. in June 2001, Jim BrothersÕ 19-by-8-foot bronze wall of four soldiers is hoisted by a crane into position. On each side of the sculpture are recessed waterfalls, and on the beach scene at bottom are additional sculptures by Brothers. The National D-Day Memorial was dedicated Wednesday, June 6, 2001, the 57th anniversary of D-Day. (File Photo 2001)

photo by: Terry Baldwin

Lawrence artist Jim Brothers is the chief sculptor for the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va. Last month, Brothers and his crew were in Bedford, putting in place his latest and largest bronze piece in the memorial, ÒScaling the Wall.Ó Here, he applies a coat of wax to the work. The National D-Day Memorial will be dedicated Wednesday, June 6, 2001, the 57th anniversary of D-Day. (Terry Baldwin File Photo 2001)

photo by: Mike Yoder

An early clay model of John Brown Hawk was the first step in Jim Brothers design for the piece. The inspiration for the unique Jayhawk came from John Steuart Curry's mural "Tragic Prelude" which is displayed on the second floor of the Kansas Statehouse. The finished piece is currently in the Lawrence Journal-World Newsroom.

photo by: Mike Yoder

At right an early form of the John Brown Hawk takes shape in the studio of sculptor Jim Brothers. At left are clay figures Brothers is sculpting that will be added to his pieces already on site at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia where he is the principal sculptor.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Sculptor Jim Brothers, left, and Chris Rairdon, sand down areas of fiberglass on the early stage of John Brown Jayhawk. After foam was carved and sculpted into shape it was covered with fiberglass mat and resin then sand. A layer of automotive body filler was applied and finely sanded before paint could be applied to the Jayhawk. (File photo April 2002)

photo by: Mike Yoder

John Brown Jayhawk, by Lawrence artist Jim Brothers, on display in the Lawrence Journal-World newsroom. (File February 2012).

photo by: Richard Gwin

Lawrence artist Jim Brothers works on his statue of Eudora's founder Paschal Fish embracing his daughter, Eudora, on Friday. The eight-foot-tall clay form was unveiled at the EudoraFest celebration in October 2007.

photo by: Kevin Anderson

The statue of Paschal Fish and his daughter Eudora Fish .by Jim Brothers

photo by: Thad Allender

Lawrence sculptor Jim Brothers inspects his nearly completed foam and clay mold of a statue titled "From the Ashes." Built as a tribute to Lawrence's war veterans and personnel from the police and fire stations, the statue will decorate the lawn of the Lawrence Visitor's Center at the Union Pacific Depot. (File photo 2003)

photo by: Mike Yoder

Jim Brothers takes a phone call during an Independence Day parade in Lawrence in the early 90's. .