James A. Bear, age 61, of Preston, Iowa, died July 20, 2007 of esophageal cancer at his home surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 23, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Preston, Iowa with Father Don Plamondon as Celebrant. A Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on July 22, 2007 at the church. An Ecumenical Prayer and Music Service will be held at 7:15 p.m. with Pastor Greg Geier officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Preston. Military rites will be accorded by the Preston American Legion Post #602. A memorial fund has been established and donations will be given to Mercy Hospice and a cancer research program which will be chosen by the family in Jim's memory.
Jim was born on May 12th, 1946 in New Hampton Iowa, the oldest son of Raymond I. and Bernice A. (Busch) Bear. He was baptized into the Catholic faith at Sacred Heart Church in Riley Ridge, Iowa. Jim was raised in Waucoma, Iowa, attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School, and graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1963. He graduated from Loras College with a B.A. in English in 1967. He attended Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, studying theology in preparation for the priesthood.
Jim left seminary in 1969, and accepted a teaching position at Northeast Community Schools, Goose Lake, Iowa. While there, he taught composition, college prep writing, world literature, speech, drama, and journalism. Additionally, he directed plays and musicals, and advised the high school yearbook staff. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served as a personnel clerk in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He was honorably discharged from active military service with the rank of SFC-5. Jim returned to Northeast Community Schools in 1972. He received his master of arts in administration in 1975, but left teaching in 1985 to attend law school at the University of Iowa, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1988.
After graduation, he opened a law office in Preston, where he practiced until his death. After his family, Jim's greatest love was music. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking and attending his sons sporting events. He served as director for the area ecumenical ministry, leading choirs for the Thanksgiving and Tenebrae services for 14 years. He served the communities of Preston and greater Jackson county in many regards: as president of the Jackson County Bar Association; president of the local and regional ISEA; as chair of the Maquoketa Area Foundation; as chair of the Preston Library Board; and as chair of the St. Joseph's Parish Council. He was very involved in the church, serving as the Parish Director of Music and Liturgy; as a Lector, Cantor, Eucharistic Minister, Religious Education instructor, and Parish Lay Leader.
Survivors include his wife, Annis; and sons Philip and Karl, both of Preston, Iowa. Also surviving are his mother, Bernice Bear of Waucoma, Iowa; and four siblings: Janice Bear of West Union, Iowa, Joann (Don) Wurzer of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, John (ZoAnn) Bear of New Hampton, Iowa, Jolene (Dan) Rimrodt, of New Hampton, Iowa, two nieces and three nephews, and a brother-in-law, Kenneth E. (Robyn) Moon of Cedar Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond I. Bear.
Obituary
Jim was born on May 12th, 1946 in New Hampton Iowa, the oldest son of Raymond I. and Bernice A. (Busch) Bear. He was baptized into the Catholic faith at Sacred Heart Church in Riley Ridge, Iowa. Jim was raised in Waucoma, Iowa, attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School, and graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1963. He graduated from Loras College with a B.A. in English in 1967. He attended Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, studying theology in preparation for the priesthood.
Jim left seminary in 1969, and accepted a teaching position at Northeast Community Schools, Goose Lake, Iowa. While there, he taught composition, college prep writing, world literature, speech, drama, and journalism. Additionally, he directed plays and musicals, and advised the high school yearbook staff. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served as a personnel clerk in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He was honorably discharged from active military service with the rank of SFC-5. Jim returned to Northeast Community Schools in 1972. He received his master of arts in administration in 1975, but left teaching in 1985 to attend law school at the University of Iowa, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1988.
After graduation, he opened a law office in Preston, where he practiced until his death. After his family, Jim's greatest love was music. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking and attending his sons sporting events. He served as director for the area ecumenical ministry, leading choirs for the Thanksgiving and Tenebrae services for 14 years. He served the communities of Preston and greater Jackson county in many regards: as president of the Jackson County Bar Association; president of the local and regional ISEA; as chair of the Maquoketa Area Foundation; as chair of the Preston Library Board; and as chair of the St. Joseph's Parish Council. He was very involved in the church, serving as the Parish Director of Music and Liturgy; as a Lector, Cantor, Eucharistic Minister, Religious Education instructor, and Parish Lay Leader.
Survivors include his wife, Annis; and sons Philip and Karl, both of Preston, Iowa. Also surviving are his mother, Bernice Bear of Waucoma, Iowa; and four siblings: Janice Bear of West Union, Iowa, Joann (Don) Wurzer of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, John (ZoAnn) Bear of New Hampton, Iowa, Jolene (Dan) Rimrodt, of New Hampton, Iowa, two nieces and three nephews, and a brother-in-law, Kenneth E. (Robyn) Moon of Cedar Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond I. Bear.
Obituary
James A. Bear, age 61, of Preston, Iowa, died July 20, 2007 of esophageal cancer at his home surrounded by his family. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, July 23, 2007 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Preston, Iowa with Father Don Plamondon as Celebrant. A Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. on July 22, 2007 at the church. An Ecumenical Prayer and Music Service will be held at 7:15 p.m. with Pastor Greg Geier officiating. Burial will be in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Preston. Military rites will be accorded by the Preston American Legion Post #602. A memorial fund has been established and donations will be given to Mercy Hospice and a cancer research program which will be chosen by the family in Jim's memory.
Jim was born on May 12th, 1946 in New Hampton Iowa, the oldest son of Raymond I. and Bernice A. (Busch) Bear. He was baptized into the Catholic faith at Sacred Heart Church in Riley Ridge, Iowa. Jim was raised in Waucoma, Iowa, attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School, and graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1963. He graduated from Loras College with a B.A. in English in 1967. He attended Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, studying theology in preparation for the priesthood.
Jim left seminary in 1969, and accepted a teaching position at Northeast Community Schools, Goose Lake, Iowa. While there, he taught composition, college prep writing, world literature, speech, drama, and journalism. Additionally, he directed plays and musicals, and advised the high school yearbook staff. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served as a personnel clerk in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He was honorably discharged from active military service with the rank of SFC-5. Jim returned to Northeast Community Schools in 1972. He received his master of arts in administration in 1975, but left teaching in 1985 to attend law school at the University of Iowa, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1988.
After graduation, he opened a law office in Preston, where he practiced until his death. After his family, Jim's greatest love was music. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking and attending his sons sporting events. He served as director for the area ecumenical ministry, leading choirs for the Thanksgiving and Tenebrae services for 14 years. He served the communities of Preston and greater Jackson county in many regards: as president of the Jackson County Bar Association; president of the local and regional ISEA; as chair of the Maquoketa Area Foundation; as chair of the Preston Library Board; and as chair of the St. Joseph's Parish Council. He was very involved in the church, serving as the Parish Director of Music and Liturgy; as a Lector, Cantor, Eucharistic Minister, Religious Education instructor, and Parish Lay Leader.
Survivors include his wife, Annis; and sons Philip and Karl, both of Preston, Iowa. Also surviving are his mother, Bernice Bear of Waucoma, Iowa; and four siblings: Janice Bear of West Union, Iowa, Joann (Don) Wurzer of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, John (ZoAnn) Bear of New Hampton, Iowa, Jolene (Dan) Rimrodt, of New Hampton, Iowa, two nieces and three nephews, and a brother-in-law, Kenneth E. (Robyn) Moon of Cedar Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond I. Bear.
Obituary
Jim was born on May 12th, 1946 in New Hampton Iowa, the oldest son of Raymond I. and Bernice A. (Busch) Bear. He was baptized into the Catholic faith at Sacred Heart Church in Riley Ridge, Iowa. Jim was raised in Waucoma, Iowa, attended St. Mary's Catholic Grade School, and graduated from Turkey Valley High School in 1963. He graduated from Loras College with a B.A. in English in 1967. He attended Mt. St. Bernard Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, studying theology in preparation for the priesthood.
Jim left seminary in 1969, and accepted a teaching position at Northeast Community Schools, Goose Lake, Iowa. While there, he taught composition, college prep writing, world literature, speech, drama, and journalism. Additionally, he directed plays and musicals, and advised the high school yearbook staff. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1970 and served as a personnel clerk in Kaiserslautern, Germany. He was honorably discharged from active military service with the rank of SFC-5. Jim returned to Northeast Community Schools in 1972. He received his master of arts in administration in 1975, but left teaching in 1985 to attend law school at the University of Iowa, where he received a Juris Doctor degree in 1988.
After graduation, he opened a law office in Preston, where he practiced until his death. After his family, Jim's greatest love was music. He also enjoyed reading, gardening, cooking and attending his sons sporting events. He served as director for the area ecumenical ministry, leading choirs for the Thanksgiving and Tenebrae services for 14 years. He served the communities of Preston and greater Jackson county in many regards: as president of the Jackson County Bar Association; president of the local and regional ISEA; as chair of the Maquoketa Area Foundation; as chair of the Preston Library Board; and as chair of the St. Joseph's Parish Council. He was very involved in the church, serving as the Parish Director of Music and Liturgy; as a Lector, Cantor, Eucharistic Minister, Religious Education instructor, and Parish Lay Leader.
Survivors include his wife, Annis; and sons Philip and Karl, both of Preston, Iowa. Also surviving are his mother, Bernice Bear of Waucoma, Iowa; and four siblings: Janice Bear of West Union, Iowa, Joann (Don) Wurzer of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, John (ZoAnn) Bear of New Hampton, Iowa, Jolene (Dan) Rimrodt, of New Hampton, Iowa, two nieces and three nephews, and a brother-in-law, Kenneth E. (Robyn) Moon of Cedar Rapids.
He was preceded in death by his father, Raymond I. Bear.
Obituary
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