COONLEY, James E. 1910-2003

COONLEY, TRIER, WILSON

Posted By: Jeffrey R. Phillips (email)
Date: 1/22/2005 at 15:19:23

James E. Coonley
By: 12/09/2003

March 27, 1910-December 8, 2003

HAMPTON - James E. Coonley, 93, of Hampton died Monday, Dec. 8, 2003, at Franklin General Hospital in Hampton. Funeral services will be Thursday, Dec. 11, at 1:30 p.m. at the Hampton United Methodist Church with Rev. Jerry Miller and Rev. Jon Anderson officiating. Burial will be in the Hampton Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, Dec. 10, from 3-8 p.m. at the Sietsema-Vogel Funeral Home in Hampton.
James was born March 27, 1910, in Iowa City to John and Sadie (Trier) Coonley Sr. He graduated from the Hampton High School. James was united in marriage to Joan M. Wilson. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1934 after studying under Judge Evans, then Chief Justice of the Iowa Supreme Court. James was Franklin County Attorney from 1935-1943, and during that time prosecuted the first successful drunken driving case using a blood test as evidence of intoxication. He was the Hampton City Attorney from 1972 until the present time. James was licensed to practice before the United States Supreme Court. He was past president of the Franklin County Bar Association and was also active at the state level with the Iowa State Bar Association. He practiced law uninterrupted for 69 years and was still active in the practice of law at Coonley & Coonley Law Firm up to the time of his death.
James was involved in several banking organizations over the years, culminating in the formation of United Bank and Trust Company. He was chairman of the board for the bank at the time of his death. James was a member of Anchor Lodge No. 191 and was also a member of the El Kahir Shrine. He was past president of the Hampton Kiwanis Club. James was a member of the Hampton United Methodist Church. His hobbies included horseback riding, golf and travel.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Mary Coonley, of Hampton; one son, John E. Coonley and wife Elaine of Hampton; two grandsons, John Coonley Jr. and Philip Coonley, both of Hampton; two nieces, Laurie Warfel of Wheaton, Ill., and Jennifer LaBonte of Payson, Ariz.; one nephew, Mike Wilson of Iowa City; and his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Cleve Wilson and wife Marilyn of Parkersburg. He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, James Jr., and Craig; and two brothers, Bob and John.

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