James FATLAND

FATLAND, HOLMES, VELAU, WINTERTON, OPHEIM, NEUBERGER, BLASI, HANNEMAN, LUTZ

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 7/18/2010 at 15:24:26

26 March 1916 -- 17 April 1995

James Fatland was born March 26, 1916, in Ellsworth, Iowa, the son of Ole and Inger (Winterton) Fatland. He attended school in Ellsworth prior to moving to Clear Lake with his parents at age 12. He worked with his father on the family farm before joining the United States Army to serve during World War II. In 1947 he married Eva Velau at Zion Lutheran Church in Clear Lake. The couple farmed south of Clear Lake, then at Nora Springs before returning to Clear Lake. In March of 1955 he began working construction for Estergard's. One of the first projects he was involved with as a member of the firm was building the roller coaster at Bayside, Clear Lake. He was also employed at the Sugar Beet in Mason City during this time. Later, he and Eva owned the Lake Cafe in the early 1970s. Eva preceded him in death Nov. 19, 1973. He formed J&G Construction Co. in Clear Lake. James continued in construction until his retirement. On Jan. 7, 1977 he married Norma Holmes at the Reformed Church in Klemme, Iowa. His hobbies included playing cards and building bird houses and lawn ornaments. He also made each of his grandchildren mantle clocks. James was a member of the Ventura United Methodist Church and V.F.W. Post No. 4868 in Clear Lake.

He is survived by his wife, Norma Fatland, Clear Lake; a daughter, Sinva Opheim and her husband, Randy, Plymouth, Iowa, and their children, Kari Neuberger, Kyle Neuberger, Aaron Opheim and Megan Opheim; a daughter, Olina Blasi and her husband, Jim, Hampton, Iowa, and their children, Chad and Corey Hanneman; a son, Silas Fatland and his wife, Charlene, Estherville, Iowa, and their children, Nicole and Krystal Fatland; a step-daughter, Cheryl Lutz and her husband, Randy, Mason City, and their children, Lisa and Jesse Lutz; a brother, Silas Fatland and his wife, Laurleen Fatland, Clear Lake. He was preceded in death by his parents; and first wife.

Clear Lake Mirror Reporter - Iowa
April 1995