James J. "Jim" Croker

CROKER, HINSBERGER, SPIEK, MOORE, RING

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 2/23/2021 at 09:15:08

James J. "Jim" Croker, 95, of Iowa City, passed away February 18, 2021 at Bickford Assisted Living in Iowa City surrounded by family.

Visitation will be Wednesday, February 24th, from 4-6 pm at Lensing Funeral Service in Iowa City, where a parish rosary will begin at 3:30 pm. Mass of Christian Burial will be held Thursday at 10:00 am at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Iowa City. Burial, with full military rites will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City.

Masks are required and social distancing practices will be in place at both the funeral home and at St. Mary’s. Instead of flowers and plants, the family suggests memorials to Bickford Assisted Living (Iowa City) or St. Croix Hospice (Cedar Rapids).

Born April 1, 1925 (April Fools baby) in Colo, Iowa on the family farm, the son of James A. and Rose A. (Hinsberger) Croker, Jim grew up in Colo and graduated from Colo High School. He later received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Loras College in Dubuque.
Jim enlisted in the US Navy and served on the USS Highlands as radio man 2nd class during WWII from 1943 until being honorably discharged in February 1946. His service included Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After losing Joanne in 2007, Jim began volunteering twice a week at the VA Hospital in Iowa City. He made many friends and found it very rewarding to give back to other veterans.

Jim met and later married the love of his life, Joanne Melton on October 15, 1951 at St. Mary’s Church in Colo, Iowa. There was a short stint in Monticello where he sold appliances before moving to Iowa City to start a new career.

Jim became an agent with State Farm Insurance in Iowa City for 43 years, retiring in 1995. He always felt very fortunate to have a career he truly loved and that he built from the ground up. He was very proud of the new office building that was designed and built in the mid 80’s.

Jim was a member of Knights of Columbus Marquette Council #842 and the American Legion as well as a long-time member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City.
In later years he and Joanne moved to an acreage on Rapid Creek Road that allowed him to revert to his old farm days. Most Sundays were spent with their children and grandchildren enjoying the pool and tennis court. They relished hosting Croker and Melton family reunions.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Joanne, brothers Vincent, John, and Dick Croker, twin sisters Calista and Collete Croker and sister-in-law Mary Croker.
Survivors include son James (Anne) and their children, Jenny , Lisa (Chris) Spiek Jimmy (Anne) and Andrew. Son Michael and daughter Laurie (Joe) Moore and their children Nick and Abbie (John) Ring. Great- grandchildren are Benjamin and Matthew Spiek, Bryson Croker, Oliver and Jaxon Ring and Kodi Moore, several brothers and sisters-in-law and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank Bickford Assisted Living and St. Croix Hospice for the exceptional care provided to Jim.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

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