James Ray 'Fitz' Fitzgerald, 17 Feb 1947 - 21 Nov 2019

FITZGERALD, BAILEY, STODDARD, CARLSON, KUBAS, VON LIENEN, WEIDER, GORSCH, WEHLING, GLANDORF, SCHULTZ, ALCOTT, BIDDLE, GEORGE

Posted By: Sarah Witte (email)
Date: 12/2/2019 at 16:26:08

James (Fitz) Ray Fitzgerald, 72, of Williamsburg (formerly of Belle Plaine) passed away peacefully in his home Sunday, November 17, 2019 after a long battle with illness.

Services were held 10:30 a.m. Thursday Nov. 21 2019 at the Hrabak-Neuhaus Funeral Service in Belle Plaine. Per Jim’s wishes he was cremated, and his ashes interned at the Oak Hill Cemetery in Belle Plaine, IA. with military honors. Luncheon at the Belle Plaine Legion to honor Jim’s life followed a graveside services at Oak Hill Cemetery.

Visitation was 5-7 p.m. Wednesday Nov. 20th at the funeral home. All memorials will be donated to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in honor of Jim. Online condolences can be sent to the family at www.neuhausfuneralservice.com.

James (Fitz) Ray Fitzgerald was born on February 17, 1947 in Belle Plaine, IA to Rapheal (Butch) and Evelyn (nee Bailey) Fitzgerald. As a boy, Jim grew up on a farm in rural Luzerne and attended Luzerne School.

He enjoyed farming with his extended family and often talked fondly of the days he spent growing up surrounded by his parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, siblings and cousins.

At the young age of 17, Jim enlisted in the Navy and served proudly from March 1964 to November 1967. While in the Navy, he was assigned to the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier and sailed to many locations throughout the Far East, including the Philippines and Vietnam. His experience in the Navy gave him a lifelong love of the ocean and sailing.

When Jim returned home after the military, he worked for the Niebes Sawmill in Belle Plaine. He learned the trade of lumber grading and completed certification through the National Hardwood Lumber Association in Memphis, TN. He then went to work for the sawmill in Oxford Junction and later returned as a yard and kiln supervisor for Pierce Lumber for several years.

He spent several years with Solar Homes of Marengo, where he travelled throughout the Midwest to set up and repair new homes. He enjoyed this and became a very talented carpenter. While travelling with family he would often point out a house, and proudly proclaim “I helped put that house up”. He stated that those years were some of the most fun of his life. He also worked at several area factories, and retired as a production operator with Riverbend Industries.

Jim spent several years an active member of the American Legion in Belle Plaine, and had previously served as the Sergeant at Arms.

Later in life, Jim reunited with his high-school sweetheart, Lois (nee Stoddard) and they were married October 18, 2014. He would say that with Lois, he felt like a king and that she was, and always had been, the love of his life.

Jim is survived by his wife, Lois; children, Evan (Michelle) Fitzgerald of South Beloit, IL and Holli Fitzgerald-Carlson of Belle Plaine, Tracie (David) Kubas and Chad (Lacey) Von Lienen both of Williamsburg, IA; grandchildren, Bailey (Dalton Weidner) Gorsch of Belle Plaine, Kaleb (Bethany Wehling) Gorsch of Marengo, Emily Fitzgerald, of Olympia, WA, Braden Fitzgerald of Ames, IA, Cole Carlson of Belle Plaine, IA, Christian Glandorf, Ethan Glandorf, Tyler Glandorf, Kyle Kubas,Kaden Kubas, Karson Kubas, Cooper VonLienen and Carson VonLeinen all of Williamsburg; great-grandchildren, Rayfe Gorsch of Belle Plaine and River Glandorf of Williamsburg; siblings, Judy (George) Schultz of Ainsworth, IA, Mary (Harold) Alcott of Belle Plaine, IA, Linda Biddle of Marengo, IA, Joseph (Tamara) Fitzgerald of Mechanicsville, IA and Janet (Robert) George of Williamsburg, IA; , and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David Fitzgerald, infant sister, Theresa and many beloved aunts and uncles.

Jim was a devoted husband, father, grand-father, brother, uncle, cousin and friend, and will be lovingly missed by many.
The family wishes to thank the Essence of Life Hospice in Amana and the VA Palliative Care Program in Iowa City for their support and wonderful care they have provided Jim over the last two years.

Published in The Hometown Current on November 27, 2019. An abbreviated version was published in The Gazette on November 20, 2019