James Eldon HUNGERFORD

HUNGERFORD, KNOWLES, RAECKER, MILLER, RENWICK, BAUER, ENGELHARDT, PITZEN, GAST, CARLTON, SPARBY

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 1/24/2009 at 11:49:59

OSAGE, IOWA - James Eldon Hungerford, 85, of Osage, died Wednesday (Jan. 21, 2009) at the Mitchell County Regional Health Center in Osage. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 24, 2009, at the First United Methodist Church in Osage, with the Rev. Dennis Hanson and Pastor Gary Gilbert officiating. Burial will be at the Osage Cemetery. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m., today [Jan. 23] at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage and will continue one hour before services at the church.

He was born April 28, 1923, to James L. and Bernice (Knowles) Hungerford on the family farm north of Manly. He was baptized and confirmed at the Bethel Evangelical Church in Manly. Eldon graduated from Manly High School in 1942. He attended Iowa State University and also worked at the Manly Creamery before being inducted into the U.S. Navy in 1944. He was stationed at Great Lakes and also the U. S. Naval Base at North Island, San Diego, Calif. Eldon was honorably discharged on July 3, 1946. On Sept. 12, 1946, he was married to Kathryn Marie Raecker at the Salem Evangelical Church at Meservey. He farmed the family farm near Manly for five years before moving to their farm north of Osage in 1951. They continued to live there until moving to their new home in Osage in 1990. They enjoyed spending twenty winters near McAllen, Texas. Eldon was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Osage, holding many offices. He was also a Farm Bureau member, charter member of the Cedar Valley Engine Club and a member of Cedar Valley Memories. His enjoyment of antique engines and tractors continued through his retirement years.

Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Kathryn Hungerford of Osage; six children, Cheryl (Gene Pitzen) Renwick of Stacyville, Brenda Miller of Nora Springs, Debra (Keith) Bauer of Floyd, Susan (Scott) Engelhardt of Osage, Bruce (Tammy) Hungerford of Osage and Mark (Michelle) Hungerford of San Antonio, Texas; twelve grandchildren, Amy and Dan Renwick, Timothy Miller, Julie and Brian Bauer, Luke and Amber Gast, Joseph, Holli and Jonathan Hungerford, Melody and Kayla Carlton; a brother, Walter Hungerford of Cedar Falls; a sister, Inez Sparby of San Antonio, Texas; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Neil Hungerford; and a son-in-law, David Miller. Arrangements are by Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage.

Mason City Globe Gazette, Iowa
January 23, 2009