Elwin James

Elwin “Jesse” James was born in 1934 at home in Buena Vista County, Iowa and passed away January 3, 2015 at Methodist Hospital in Des Moines. He graduated from Early High School in 1952 and began his career as a professional driver later that year when he started driving the school bus for Early’s school.
In 1957 he went to work for the USPS, working on the highway post office and the railway post office out of Des Moines. After the discontinuation of the service on the rails in 1967 Elwin went back to driving full time for SMB Stagelines, then Gulf Oil, Sturm Trucking and finally Hyman Freight Lines, where he retired on July 26, 1996.
After retiring from truck driving in 1996, he drove the school bus for Southeast Polk Schools until 2006. He was loved by all the students who rode with him.
He was awarded the 2 Million Mile Safe Driving Recognition with Hyman Freightways, a prestigious honor, earned by only the top professional drivers in the country.
Elwin, or “Jesse” to his friends (which included everyone he met), was father to four daughters, Debbie, Cathie, Becky, and Cindy. He married Donna Platt on April 20, 1953 and celebrated 61 years of marriage in 2014.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his daughter Becky and one brother, Max. He is survived by his wife, Donna; his daughters, Debbie (Lonnie) Umdenstock of Altoona, Cathie (Greg) Walz of Evergreen, Colorado, and Cindy (Allan) Rutten of Pleasant Hill; sisters, Carol and Coni; brother, Bob; and multiple nieces and nephews.
As the head of the James Gang, he loved riding on a motorcycle, camping, riding horses, boating, and going to the Iowa State Fair with his children, grandchildren (8) and great-grandchildren (11).
Now in heaven, Elwin rides his Indian Chief with his father. The next time you hear thunder up there it is them on their motorcycles riding into the sunset.
A visitation with the family will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Hamilton’s Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Altoona United Methodist Church, 602 5th Avenue SW.
Memorial contributions may be directed to Dollars for Scholars. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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