James McDonald

James E. McDonald, 88, of Steamboat Rock, Iowa, died on Saturday, October 30, 2010 at the Ellsworth Municipal Hospital in Iowa Falls, Iowa. Funeral services will be at 1:30 pm on Thursday, November 4, 2010 at the First Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock with Pastors Bruce Baillie and Lloyd McDonald officiating.    Visitation is on Wednesday, November 3, from 5pm to 7pm at Creps-Abels Funeral Home in Eldora. Burial will be at a later date in the Steamboat Rock Cemetery.

James was born April 9, 1922, in Liberty Township, Marshall County, Iowa, the son of David “Oppie” T. McDonald and Sattie (Vestal) McDonald. He received his education at Whitten High School and a technical school in Des Moines. After working for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego, he returned to Iowa.

On September 20, 1944 he was united in marriage to Lucille M. Green and they started their journey through life on the “Twister Farm” southeast of Eldora, where their daughter, Peggy Ann was born in 1946. They then resided on a farm east of Steamboat Rock for many years, where in addition to farming he also had a painting and contracting business. After leaving the farm they resided in Salina, Kansas for 4 years where he worked at Wyatt Manufacturing as Eastern Sales Representative, and then in Valparaiso, Indiana for 8 years where he worked as a national sales manager for both Chester Hybrids and LML Engineering and Manufacturing Corporation. After returning to Iowa, James purchased the hardware store in Steamboat Rock and after it was sold worked for Kness Manufacturing in Albia as a national sales representative. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Steamboat Rock.

He is survived by his daughter, Peggy Ann McDonald of LaGrange Park, Illinois and sister, Donna J. Monkelien of Fort Dodge, Iowa. Preceding him in death were his parents; wife, Lucille on October 30, 2002; brothers-in-law, Richard D. Monkelien and Major Richard I. Green; and his sister-in-law, Lillian Green.