Stewart, James Hardy 1931-2013

STEWART, SHAW, BRANDT, WOOD, HURLEY, GIBSON, BUTIKOFER, HINZE

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/11/2013 at 21:20:17

James H. Stewart
(December 9, 1931 - June 5, 2013)

James H. Stewart, 81, of Oelwein, Iowa died on Wednesday morning, June 5, 2013 at home surrounded by his family.

Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, June 8, 2013 at the Christ United Presbyterian Church in Oelwein, Iowa; Officiating: Rev. Charis Combs-Lay; Visitation: from 4:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. on Friday at the Jamison-Schmitz Funeral Home in Oelwein and after 10:00 A.M. on Saturday at the church; There will be a public Masonic service at 7:00 P.M. on Friday at the funeral home by Hebron Masonic Lodge #374 A.F. & A.M.; Interment: Woodlawn Cemetery at Oelwein, Iowa.

A Memorial Fund has been established in his name.

James Hardy Stewart was born on December 9, 1931 at home in rural Oelwein, Iowa, the son of James Alfred and Florence Loraine (Shaw) Stewart. He was baptized on March 27, 1932 at the First Presbyterian Church in Oelwein. He graduated from Oelwein High School in 1949 and received a Bachelors of Arts degree from the University of Chicago. James married Norma Jean Brandt on August 11, 1956 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church at Postville, Iowa. James was a lifelong dairy farmer in rural Oelwein. He was a lifelong member of the Christ United Presbyterian Church where he served as an elder, a lifelong Farm Bureau member, longtime Iowa Holstein Association member, received the Oelwein Jaycees Outstanding Young Farmer Award, was named Fayette County Distinguished Dairyman, and was past chairman of the Fayette County Soil Conservation District. James was a 50 year member of Hebron Masonic Lodge # 374 A.F. & A.M. where he was past worshipful master in 1978, a member of the York Rite Bodies, El Kahir Shrine and was a past patron of the Order of Eastern Star Oelwein Chapter #45. He was also a member of the Tin Lizzie and Wee Winnies shrine units. James went on three mission trips to Korea, Ecuador and Kenya.

James loved reading to his grandchildren, holding them, watching them grow and pursue their passions and telling them how blessed he was. Even as his illness progressed, his gentle and caring personality never waivered.

James is survived by his wife of 56 years—Norma Stewart of Oelwein, Iowa; 4 Children—Matthew (Diana) Stewart of Oelwein, Iowa; Rebecca (Douglas) Wood of Park City, Utah; Christine (Charles) Hurley of Pleasant Hill, Iowa and Mark (Karen) Stewart of Oelwein, Iowa; 21 Grandchildren and 12 Great Grandchildren; Sister—Maryann (Alanson) Gibson of Elgin, Iowa; Brother—Alvin (Karen) Stewart of Newton, Iowa; Sister-in-law, Shirley Butikofer of Elgin, Iowa; and a Brother-in-law, Duane (Delores) Brandt of Oelwein, Iowa.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister and brother; foster son (Andrew Hinze); and a Brother-in-law, Francis Butikofer. ~ The Des Moines Register Website, Des Moines, Iowa.