James William Sands

SANDS, MOORE, SMITH, MORRISON, WYKERT, GRIM, HAZELETT, BOYD

Posted By: Skipton
Date: 1/12/2011 at 12:22:30

James “Bill” William Sands, 88, of Columbus Junction, passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2008 at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. Memorial services will be 1:30 P.M. on Saturday, January 10, 2009 at the Columbus Junction United Methodist Church. Pastor Al Coffin will officiate the services. Inurnment will take place at the Columbus City Cemetery. Full military rites will be provided by the Allen Wright Hanft American Legion Post #100. Following the committal services at the cemetery there will be a time of food and fellowship at the Colombus Junction United Methodist Church.. There will be no visitation. The Stacy-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Columbus Junction United Methodist Church, American Heart Association or the Stroke Association in Bill’s name. Online sympathy notes may be left for the Sands family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.

James William Sands was born on June 15, 1920 in Amberg, WI, the son of Glen and Edna (Moore) Sands. On June 15, 1946 he was united in marriage to Kathleen Smith in Columbus Junction. Bill was a decorated WWII veteran, having served in Normandy, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Andennes. He received the ETO Ribbon, the pre-Pearl Harbor Badge, the American Defense Mexican Border and The Purple Heart. Bill was a lifetime member of the VFW #4630, the Allen Wright Hanft American Legion Post #100, the D.A.V. and the Columbus City Masonic Lodge. He was also a 32nd degree Mason, a member of the KAABA Shrine Club and a member of the Swedish Rites. He was a former member of the Louisa County Farm Bureau, serving on the board of Directors of the Valley View Estates in Mission, TX for six years, serving four of them as president. Bill was a long time farmer in Louisa County, later working at the Army Reserve Center in Washington, IA as an AST before retiring in 1983.

In February of 2008, Bill and Kathleen sold their home in Mission, TX and returned to Columbus Junction. Bill enjoyed his 6:00 A.M. breakfast buddies at Economart, his 9:30 A.M. country farmers coffee klutch and his 2:00 P.M. coffee friends at Lee’s. Bill also enjoyed golf, playing cards, and music, especially playing the banjo.

Bill will be deeply missed by his wife, Kathleen of Columbus Junction; one brother, Sam Sands of Columbus Junction; three sisters; Charlotte Morrison of Columbus Junction, Jean Wykert of Burlington and Joan Grim and her husband, Everett of Nichols; many nieces and nephews; and many great nieces and nephews. Bill made many friends while in the Army Reserve and special ones were Warren McConahay, Max White, Dennis Greiner, Truman Hysell and Charlie Shellabarger.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Bob and Dick Sands; three sisters, Myrna Hazelett, Lois Boyd and Betty June Sands