James M. FOSNAUGH

FOSNAUGH, SIMERL, MANNES, SCHAFFER, WALTMAN, FOSTER, PRATT, TERRILL, FORSLOF, HUMMEL, PEARSON

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 11/23/2011 at 15:33:20

January 8, 1923 -- November 11, 2011

James M. Fosnaugh, 88, died on Friday, November 11, 2011, at the West View Care Center in Britt. Services were held on Wednesday, November 16, at the Immanuel Reformed United Church of Christ in Klemme.

Jim was born on January 8, 1923 in Halbur, to Edward and Anna Mae (Simerl) Fosnaugh. He attended country schools and finished the 8th grade in Algona. Jim worked for many farmers in the Algona area, and in August 1943 he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was transferred to the Air Corps where he was a gunner. He was stationed at Kimbolton, England. During his tour he flew 35 bombing missions as a ball turret gunner over German occupied territory with the 379th Bomb Group. He returned to the States in January 1945, and on January 15, 1945, he married Ruth Mannes of Thompson. This union was blessed with one son, David James. Jim was discharged from service at the Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas in October 1945. He and his wife returned to Iowa where Jim resumed working for farmers. In August 1958, the family moved to Klemme. He worked much of his life for Hancock County Co-op Oil and Larson Oil Company.

James was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Gilbert, Wilbert, Albert (Joe) and Earnest; sisters, Myrtle Schaffer, Velma Waltman, Harriet Foster and Stella Pratt; and step great-grandson, Mathew Terrill. James is survived by his wife, Ruth; son, David and his wife, Peg (Boyd) Fosnaugh of Oak Harbor, Washington; granddaughters, Kelli Jo Terrill of Sedro Woolley, Washington and Terri Jo (Wallace) Forslof of Arlington, Washington; great-grandchildren, Jacob Hummel, Joshua Terrill and David Forslof; and sisters-in-law, Jean Pearson of Klemme, Ethel Mannes of Lake Mills and Zita Fosnaugh of Bancroft.

Belmond Independent - Iowa
November 15, 2011