Jordan, James Russell "Russ" (1919-2008)

JORDAN, RUSSELL, KING, WOLFE, MARNIN, SHARPE, ASCHER, ROSALES, CLAGGETT, STOIA, FAHEY, STRONG, STOIA, OSEN, BIRK, FITCH, HASKINS, MCMARTIN

Posted By: Bobbie Knudsen (email)
Date: 5/25/2009 at 18:32:26

The Des Moines Register
Sunday, February 24, 2008

James Russell "Russ" Jordan
Atlantic

James Russell "Russ" Jordan, 88, died on Tuesday, February 19, at Heritage House in Atlantic of complications of Parkinson's Disease.

Russ was born on September 17, 1919, on the Jordan family farm on Troublesome Creek Road north of Wiota to James Warren and Grace A. (Russell) Jordan.

He graduated from Wiota High School in 1937; in 1941 he married Mary Jane King of Hancock. They farmed in the area for several years, moving in 1950 to a farm near Rolfe, Iowa where they lived for 25 years until returning to the area in 1975, purchasing the Carl and Marie Keller farm north of Atlantic and continuing to farm the Jordan family Century Farm.

In 1995 Russ and Mary Jane were featured in the documentary Troublesome Creek: A Midwestern, written and produced by their daughter Jeanne and her husband Steve. The movie highlighted the farm crisis in the Midwest, and won many awards, including the Sundance Film Festival and an Academy Award nomination. Russ enjoyed receiving calls and correspondence from all over the world, including two visits to Atlantic, by Australian tour groups in the late 1990's. The movie continues to be aired on television and DVD.

Russ was an expert on John Deere machinery, and enjoyed collecting and restoring historic tractors. He was a remarkable story teller who always enjoyed meeting new people and sharing their stories. Russ will be remembered and missed by all who knew him.

He is survived by six children, Pam (Gary) Wolfe of Elk Horn, Judy (Joe) Marnin of Anita, Janet (Mike) Sharpe of Red Oak, Jeanne Jordan (Steven Ascher) of Newton, MA, Jim (Gini) Jordan and Jon (Kim) Jordan, both of Atlantic. He leaves eleven grandchildren: Mike (Connie) Wolfe of Plattsmouth, NE; Jan (Armando) Rosales of Dayton, OH; Jenny (Joe) Claggett of McKinney, TX; Jenna (Justin)Stoia of Franklin, NC; Justin (Becky) Sharpe of Bettendorf; Jordan Ascher of Newton, MA; Grace Jordan and Will Fahey of Rancho Cucamonga, CA; Jesse (Jared) Strong of Norwalk; James Jordan of Norwalk; Elliot Jordan of San Francisco; and Emily Jordon of Dayton, OH; and seven great-grandchildren, Caitlin, Mairin and Brian Wolfe of Plattsmouth, NE; Nina and Emma Rosales of Dayton, OH; Josey Claggett of McKinney, TX; and Matthew Stoia of Franklin, NC; along with several nieces, nephews and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Jane (1995); his parents Warren and Grace Jordan; his four sisters and spouses, Adele (Harry) Osen, Virginia (Clarence) Osen; Geneva (John) Birk, and Janice (Richard) Fitch; his great-grandson, Joseph Michael Rosales; Mary Jane's parents, Charles and Luella King of Hancock, and her siblings and spouses, Charles (Keren) King, Ruth Haskins, and Esther (Keith) McMartin.

The memorial service will be held on Sunday, February 24 at 2:30 p.m. at Roland Funeral Service in Atlantic, Iowa. The Interment will take place in the Wiota cemetery following the service. Visitation will be held Saturday, February 23, for 5 to 7 p.m. also at Roland's.

Roland Funeral Service is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be made to www.rolandfuneralservice.com