Lombard, Rev. James E. 1871-1952

LOMBARD, EDWARDS, EHLERS

Posted By: Linda Ziemann (email)
Date: 2/19/2006 at 21:03:11

LeMars Globe-Post
Dated January 31, 1952

REV. J. LOMBARD
Rev. James E. Lombard, 80, who held pastorates in Sioux City for six years at Wesley Methodist and St. James churches, died Wednesday at his home at Seney, Ia., after a sickness of four years.

Rev. Mr. Lombard had served 52 ½ years, mostly in North Iowa conference, prior to his retirement in 1945. Associates said his length of service was a record in the conference.

His last pastorate was at Seney. He began his career in the ministry in the East Maine conference in 1893.

He was born December 30, 1871, in Brunswick, Me.

Rev. Mr. Lombard was well known to Sioux Cityans, St. James church was constructed while he was pastor. He was superintendent there of the Anti-Saloon league and once was a candidate for mayor of Sioux City.

“The good Lord,” said the minister at that time, “was with me and took care of me. Good men have been spoiled in political office and I might have been.”

He once was offered the presidency of the Civil League of Iowa, but he declined saying that he wanted to continue preaching.

Rev. Mr. Lombard united with the East Maine conference in the spring of 1893. In his sophomore year at Preston college in Maine, he preached his first sermon from the pulpit of Rev. Frank Haddock, whose father, Rev. Geo. C. Haddock, was shot and killed in Sioux City, August 3, 1886, while he was pastor here of the First Methodist church, then at Seventh and Nebraska streets.

The pastor spent 11 years in the East Maine conference, the transferred from Waldoboro, Mo., to Geddes, S.D. During the seven years he spent in South Dakota he was appointed a state deputy at Miller, to aid in law enforcement. He was transferred from Miller to the Des Moines conference in 1911 and was at Scranton, Ia., for three years.

He later served four years at Greenfield, Ia., and later at Epworth church in Des Moines. During the World War I, he was assigned to the intelligence department and served both his church and his country at the same time.

Later he went to pastorates at Logan and Osceola, Ia., then to Wesley church in Sioux City. He arrived here to take charge of a new church and heavy obligations. The indebtedness was materially reduced, associates recalled, under his direction.

He later went to St. James in Morningside where indebtedness was removed and $9000 raised toward construction of a new church. He said in September 1944, with much satisfaction, friends recalled, that “both churches are free of debt.”

Rev. Mr. Lombard on September 6, 1893, married Crissie M. Edwards. She died March 20, 1933. He later married Mrs. Vinnie Ehlers.

Survivors include the widow, three daughters, Mrs. Helen Parker of San Diego, Calif.; Mrs. Alice Stanton of Bremerton, Wash.; and Mrs. Mary Raukohl of Long Beach, Calif.; four sons, John Lombard of Sioux City; Walter of Long Beach; Paul of Altadema, Calif.; and Darrell of Seney; two step-daughters, Mrs. E. R. Shepherd of San Diego and Mrs. Albert Olson of LeMars, 11 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren, and three step-grandchildren.

The Anderson funeral home has charge of arrangements.

From the LeMars Sentinel dated February 1, 1952:

Funeral services will be held Saturday, Feb. 2, at the Seney Methodist church at 10:30 a.m. and at the Leeds Methodist church at 2 p.m., Rev. A. A. Howe of Havelock will officiate at the services.

[Date of death, Wed. January 30, 1952]