HANLEY, James W. "Jim" III

HANLEY, PATTON, DIEKEMA

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 6/5/2013 at 00:36:46

James W. “Jim” Hanley III, 61, died peacefully at his home in Clear Lake Monday,
April 12, 2010 after a heroic battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service was held on Friday, April 16, at First
Congregational Church, Clear Lake, where Jim was a longtime member, with the
Rev. Michael C. Nash, officiating. Private family inurnment was at Memorial
Park Cemetery. Memorials can be directed to the family.

Jim was born on Oct. 21, 1948 in Mason City, Iowa, to James W. Hanley Jr. and
Margaret (Patton) Hanley. During childhood he was a Boy Scout, and later
attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Jim graduated from Mason City High School in
1967, and was a member of the Mohawks’ undefeated 1965 championship football
team, as a kicker and end.

Jim attended Iowa State University, playing football and studying political
science, and was a member of Delta Upsilon. He moved to Mason City and began a
27-year career at Yelland & Hanes, first as inventory clerk, and later sales
manager and partner. A nephew of Annie Yelland, Jim treasured his relationship
with the Hanes family. Office supplies and sales were in his blood, and he truly
enjoyed helping his customers. Most recently, he worked for PSI in Mason City.

Jim met Alice Diekema while the pair worked at Yelland & Hanes, and it was love
at first sight. Married in 1973, they moved to Clear Lake in 1979. They were
blessed with three wonderful children – John, 32, Adam, 29, and Theresa, 25. Jim
always was proud of his family – they meant the world to him. He was excited to
move into a townhome in downtown Clear Lake in 2007, where he could keep a
bird’s-eye view on the summer action from his balcony.

Jim was the quintessential nice guy. He always had a knack to solve any problem,
and eagerly devoted time, energy and talent to helping others. Whether
installing office furniture, building play equipment, packing a moving truck,
maintaining a lawn, or fixing things around the house, Jim was the guy to call.
His fondest memories were of time spent at work or play with his many friends,
family, colleagues, and customers.

Jim loved sports and followed Clear Lake High School, Iowa State, the L.A.
Dodgers, and Minnesota Vikings with vigor – but he always wanted to see a good
game. He enjoyed sailing, classic cars, traveling, crossword puzzles, grilling,
dinners with friends – often on the deck at Ge-Jo’s – and sitting on his balcony
with a glass of wine or champagne. Jim cherished his family, friends, life in
Clear Lake, and several pets, from his childhood Dalmatian, “Colonel Popcorn” to
his current cat, “Sophie.”

Jim was thankful to have the Mercy Cancer Center team to help him with his
valiant fight against cancer. When the time came to focus on comfort, dignity,
and quality of life, he was blessed to have the caring team at Hospice of North
Iowa.

Jim will be dearly missed by his wife of 36 years, Alice; his children, John
Hanley and wife, Amy, of Lawrence, Kan., Adam Hanley and wife, Sara, of
Longmont, Colo., and Theresa Hanley of Clear Lake; sister, Lynda Hanley; niece,
Kristine Woodhouse and partner, Richard Lorenzini, and niece, Katherine McGerald
and husband, Evan, all of Ridgefield, Conn.; cousin, Jean Fortune and husband,
Dave, of Plano, Texas, and cousin, David Patton, and wife, Roberta, of Naples,
Fla.; as well as several nieces, nephews, other relatives, and many good
friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, James W. Hanley Jr. in 1990;
father-in-law, John Diekema in 1998; mother-in-law, Alice Diekema in 2005; his
mother, Margaret Hanley in 2008; and his grandparents, uncles and aunts.