WILLIS, James C. 'Jim' 1932 - 2012

WILLIS, JOHNSON, SMITH, BISGARD, PACHA, KENT, MILLER

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 10/27/2012 at 13:36:07

"The Fairfield Ledger"
Friday, October 19, 2012
Page 8

James C. WILLIS

James C. WILLIS, 80, of Libertyville, died Friday morning, Oct. 19, 2012 at the Jefferson County Health Center.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield.

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"The Fairfield Ledger"
Monday, October 22, 2012
Page 2

James C. 'Jim' WILLIS

James C. "Jim" WILLIS, 80 of Libertyville passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Friday October 19, 2012 at the Jefferson County Health Center.

Jim was born October 7, 1932 in Hannibal, MO to Thomas Dixon and Naomi Faye JOHNSON WILLIS.

Jim served in the U. S. Army from 1950 to 1953 being stationed in Korea and Germany. He was Honorably discharged.

Jim met the love of his life, JoAnn SMITH in Lockridge, Iowa while working for the C.B. & Q Railroad. They were married at the New Sweden Lutheran Church in rural Lockridge on March 6, 1955. They lived briefly in Hannibal, Mo before moving to Jefferson County in Iowa.

Jim's career included working for the Fairfield School System as a bus mechanic and later as transportation director. He Co-Owned and operated Ed and Jim's Shell Service for 15 years. He retired in 1997 from Jefferson County Mutual Insurance as claims inspector/adjuster.

During retirement he especially loved buying and restoring antique Farmall tractors.

He and JoAnn loved car rides especially traveling back to his beloved Missouri.

Jim served as city council member and Mayor of Libertyville. Jim was also very active member of the Fairfield Kiwanis, and was named Kiwanian of the Year in 2009. He was a member of the First Lutheran Church of Fairfield, where he served on the church council and chairman of the property committee for many years. Jim was a member and past master of Clinton Lodge # 15 A.F. & A.M. Masonic Lodge.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother: Thomas D. WILLIS Jr.; Father-in-law: Ralph O. SMITH.

Jim is survived by his wife, JoAnn of 57 years; 2 daughters: Patricia and husband Dennis BISGARD of Chariton, IA; Jacqueline and husband Timothy PACHA of Fairfield, 5 grandchildren: Kelly (Jason) KENT of Williamsburg; Corey (Lori) BISGARD of Ankeny; Brent (Whitney) PACHA of Richland; Cole (Chandra) BISGARD of Lincoln, NE; Brittany PACHA of Ames. 6 great-grandchildren: Macey, Carter, Nolan, Emma, Lucas and Addilyn. 2 sisters: Norma WILLIS of Quincy, IL; Donna and Larry MILLER of Hannibal, MO; many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 22, 2012 at the First Lutheran Church in Fairfield with Pastor John Meyer and Pastor Stacy Grau officiating. Burial will be in the New Sweden Lutheran Cemetery, Northwest of Lockridge.

Family will receive friends on Sunday at the Raymond Funeral Home from 3-5 p.m.

Memorials may be made to First Lutheran Church or the New Sweden Lutheran Church and Cemetery of Lockridge.

Arrangements are in the care of the Raymond Funeral Home in Fairfield.

On-line condolences may be made to the family through www.raymondfuneralhomes.com.

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*Copied verbatim with permission from The Fairfield Ledger, Inc. This material may NOT be copied and re-posted in any public venue such as Ancestry or Find A Grave without permission from The Fairfield Ledger ~ copyright restrictions apply.
*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.

Jefferson Obituaries maintained by Joey Stark.
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