RANSOM, James A. 1923 - 2016

RANSOM, AITCHESON, BERTON, HENDRICKS, JOHNSON, FORZANO

Posted By: Pat Ludeke (email)
Date: 10/13/2017 at 23:01:58

James Allison Ransom, 93 of Clear Lake, died Monday, February 15, 2016, at Rockwell Community Nursing Home in Rockwell.

A memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, February 27, 2016, at Clear Lake United Methodist Church with Rev. Dr. Jacqueline Thompson officiating and military honors provided by the Clear Lake V.F.W. Post 4868.

A light lunch and time for visiting with the family will follow the service in the church fellowship hall.

Jim was born February 6, 1923, the son of James H. and Mildred C. (Aitcheson) Ransom, and grew up on the family farm south of Clear Lake. A graduate of Clear Lake High School, class of 1940, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in active duty overseas during World War II.

Upon return from service, he met the love of his life, Barbara Berton, whom he married on August 27, 1947. He began farming, but in the fall of 1950, he was called into the Korean War for further overseas duty. He returned home in August 1951 to begin life anew. He worked several years for Northern Natural Gas, owned and managed appliance stores, and worked later in life as a painter and floor coverer.

Jim knew that life’s joys came from hard work, loving relationships with family and friends, and looking beyond one’s own needs to serve others rather than from material possessions. Accordingly, he gave constantly of himself and treasured simple things like a beautiful sunrise over Clear Lake, an ice cream cone, a cribbage game, mixing batter at a Methodist Church pancake breakfast, husking sweet corn for the Evening Lions burger feed, sipping a Pepsi with friends during afternoons at the VFW, and any and all gatherings of family – especially on the Fourth of July with flags, floats, and fireworks.

Jim was a people person, a leader, and a faithful, humble man. He loved to laugh. He was somewhat a perfectionist, holding himself to high standards in all that he did. He had a knack for seeing the big picture and knowing the right things to say and do when things needed to be said and done. He served in leadership and member roles on many Clear Lake organizations including the Evening Lions (Charter President in 1975), V.F.W., United Methodist Church, Memorial Golf Course, City Council, and Chamber of Commerce. In 1995 he was named Clear Lake’s Citizen of the Year.

Jim will be missed dearly by his survivors: two children, Michael James (Jeanine) Ransom of Rochester, MN and Sue “Allyson” (Tom Hendricks) Ransom of Clear Lake; grandson Benjamin (Lindsey) Ransom of Saint Paul, MN; great-granddaughter, Greta Ransom; brother, Ross H. (Marvel) Ransom of Mason City; sister Jean Johnson of Mason City; Barbara’s sister, Bonnie Forzano, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Barbara; grandson, Tyler Michael Ransom; brother-in-law, Harlan Johnson; Barbara’s brother-in-law, Richard Forzano, and two special friends, Joan Benson and Lorene Haddy.

Jim’s family appreciates the loving care he received the past eighteen months from the Rockwell Community Nursing Home staff and the past several weeks by Hospice of North Iowa. They also appreciate the calls, visits, cards, thoughts, and prayers he received following his move to Rockwell.

In lieu of flowers, family welcomes memorial contributions to the Clear Lake Veterans Memorial, Clear Lake United Methodist Church, Opportunity Village, or Hospice of North Iowa.