James Webb

 James F. Webb, 91, of Grand Junction, Iowa, passed away on Friday, February 13, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial was held 10:30 a.m., Feb. 17, at St. John’s Catholic Church in Ogden. Father James Bruch will officiate. Visitation will be Monday, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m., with a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m., all at St. John’s Catholic Church.  Burial will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery in Boone.  For online obituaries and condolences please visit: www.carsonstappfuneralhome.com

James Francis Webb, son of Will H. and Eleanora (Adam) Webb was born on a farm in Sigourney, Iowa, on September 28, 1923, as the second son in a family of five sons and one daughter.  

His parents sold their farm in Sigourney and moved to Fairfield in 1934.  Jim farmed with his parents there and graduated from Fairfield High School in 1941.

Jim had a baling crew as his first business venture for 15 years.

Jim was drafted into the United States Army in 1940 with his older brother, C. Michael, at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.  He was dismissed for health reasons and returned to farm with his father. Claude Michael was killed in WWII near Guam in July of 1944.

Jim and his family then moved to Libertyville, Iowa, to continue farming.  Jim then moved to Fremont where he farmed with his brother, Joe, and family.  These brothers later moved to Boone to continue farming in 1950.

Jim met and married Joan Duncan in 1953 and they moved to the farm east of Boone that is now known as the Iowa State Agronomy Farm.  I.S.U. bought that farm and Jim and Joan and family moved to “the home place” farm in 1960, where they have lived ever since.  

There were three children born to their family, Timothy, Nicholas, and Nancy.

In his lifetime Jim attended many night school classes.  He was a member of the Chicago Meat Board.  He also showed cattle and hogs at many fairs and livestock shows.

While living in Grand Junction, Jim raised Purebred Angus Cattle and won various awards at many cattle shows in the mid-west.

In 1940, Jim judged hogs with E.A. Quate (Professor at I.S.U.) for the John Morrell Co. in Ottumwa, Iowa.  Jim was proud to help his children show livestock at many county fairs.  He was a natural engineer – building many projects and always thinking of some way to change a piece of machinery for better use.  He enjoyed snowmobiling with his family and boating with different boats at the lake with children and extended family.  At 91, he operated the combine and harvested all the crops on all of his son’s acres and continued to do other fieldwork with his Big Tractor called “Dad’s Office”.  He enjoyed raising cattle, sheep, and hogs and kept interested in newest trends in farming.

Jim enjoyed his kids, grandchildren, and great grandchildren and their progress in life, encouraging them to continue education and college.  

He loved to tell grandkids and family about his life experiences.

The only way Jim ever really relaxed was near the lake or watching his cowboy shows.

Farming brought Jim great satisfaction and was both his lifetime occupation and passion.   

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Will and Eleanora Webb, oldest brother, Claude Michael Webb, and sister, Oda Marie and her husband, Al Sheedy.

Survivors include his wife of 60 ½ years, Joan Webb of Grand Junction, Iowa; two sons, Timothy James Webb of Jefferson, Iowa, and Nicholas John Webb (fiancée, Mary Brickley) of Grand Junction, Iowa; one daughter, Nancy Jill Webb of Des Moines, Iowa; four grandchildren, Tom Webb, Tina Webb Mobley and husband, Bob, Jesse Webb Mausbach, and Danni Webb Mausbach; six great grandchildren, Colton, Madison, Kate, Truman, Sawyer, and Lilee; three brothers, Joseph (Lois) Webb of Altoona, Iowa, Ronald (Shirley) Webb of Moorland, Iowa, and Edward (Betty) Webb of LeMars, Iowa; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins and many friends.

Memorials may be left to Grand Junction Fire & Rescue.