MARTIN, James William 1917-2009
MARTIN, REIS, THOMAS
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/15/2011 at 17:56:51
James W. Martin 1917 - 2009
James W. Martin, 92, of Charles City, died Wednesday, May 27, 2009 at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City.
A funeral Mass for James Martin will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Monsignor Stanley Hayek will celebrate the Mass. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery at Charles City. There will be a flag presentation by the Charles City Ceremonial Unit.
Friends may call at the Hauser Funeral Home in Charles City from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday where there will be Vigil Scriptural Wake Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday at the church an hour prior to the service.
James William Martin was born March 19, 1917, at Clear Lake, the third child of Guy and Josephine (Thomas) Martin. The family moved to Charles City in 1925, where Jim graduated from Charles City High School in 1935.
On August 12, 1939, he was united in marriage to Neva Jean Reis. To this union six sons and a daughter were born. Jim served in the Army Air Corps from December 1942 to July 1945; and was commissioned in 1944, flew as an Aerial Navigator, flying 50 combat missions, in B-17 Flying Fortress Heavy Bombers, in the 15th Air Force from Italy. As Squadron Navigator of the 49th Squadron, 2nd Bomb Group, and as Group Lead Navigator he flew more than half of his 50 missions. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air Medal with three oak leaf clusters, the European Theatre of Operations Ribbon with three battle stars, and the American Defense Medal for service in the Iowa National Guard and the U.S. Naval Reserve from 1934 to 1941.
Jim was employed with Oliver Farm Equipment Company, later Oliver Corporation, and continued his career with Oliver-White for over 35 years until he left the company as Corporate Supervisor of Planning and Development. He then joined Federal-Bryant Machinery Company of Elmhurst, Illinois, as manager of their Iowa Branch until his retirement in 1981.
Later he served the Charles City Area Development Corporation as their Marketing Director until 1985. He was a member of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Jim was also a member of the Oliver Management Club for many years and was President of the organization in 1954. He was active I the Selective Service System for over 15 years, serving as a local board member and chairman, and on the Northern Iowa Judicial District Selective Service Appeal Board, representing industry. Jim valued his time spent with his family, and also enjoyed reading, playing the piano, gardening, caring for his lawn, and wood working.
Jim will be sadly missed by his wife of 70 years, Neva of Charles City; 5 sons, Robert (Janice) Martin of Oregon, Wis., Richard (Sandra) Martin of Earlham; William (Linda) Martin of San Angelo, Tex., Stephen (Jerry) Martin of Altoona and Thomas (Kolleen) Martin of Charles City; a daughter, Kathy (David) Schultz of Des Moines; a daughter-in-law, Jan Kittleson (David Martin) of Cedar Falls; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; and five step-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, David Martin; and three brothers, Lawrence, Robert “Ed”, and Dean Martin; and a sister, Helen Paul.
The Hauser Funeral Home, (641) 228-2323, www.hauserfh.com, in Charles City, is in charge of arrangements.
[ CharlesCity365.com - Wednesday, May 27, 2009 ]
Floyd Obituaries maintained by LaVern Velau.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen