James Mathews

May 24, 2023

James Mathews

Service Details

James (Jim) Mathews, age 79, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, May 24, 2023, surrounded by his loving family. He was born the son of Edward and Marie Mathews on January 10, 1944, in Huron, South Dakota. He had two sisters Dorothy and Patricia.

Jim was an Electrical Engineer with General Motors (Delco/Delphi) in Kokomo, Indiana, and Reynosa, Mexico for 33 years. He was an electronics genius and was responsible for several patents. He was inducted into the General Motors Hall of Fame in 1996 and received the Boss Kettering Award. Jim was also a Ham Radio Operator (W9KYS) since he was 15 years old. Jim loved anything electronics related as well as panning for gold and working endless hours with his wife Jean on flowers and yard care. Jim would enjoy hand-weeding flower beds as he sat with grandchildren in the yard. When Jean headed up a free medical clinic in Nuevo Progresso, Mexico (Branches of Faith Ministries) he was one of her biggest cheerleaders and volunteers often seeing to it that the job got done whether it was driving in unknown places in Mexico to get kids medicine or funding the clinic. In Russiaville Indiana, he was a volunteer EMT along with his wife. Jim was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in South Dakota, and the Ostomy Club in Indiana, as well as a church member at respective churches in each state he had lived in (South Dakota, Indiana, Texas, and Iowa). Jim attended Huron College and graduated from Valparaiso Technical Institute.

Those left to cherish his memory include his loving wife Jean of 56 years, children Christy Mathews, Ryan Mathews (his wife Deb Mathews), and Stacey Carpenter (her husband Rick Northway). Jim and Jean also raised a grandson Kris Morrison as well as unofficially “adopted” and loved on others in their life such as Joe Orem who has been their son’s friend since age 5. Other grandchildren include Tricia Wilson (her husband Jared Wilson), Avery Mathews, Cale Carpenter, Gabe Mathews, and Joel Carpenter. Jim enjoyed watching countless choir concerts, soccer games, baseball games, go-kart races, and paintball tournaments that his grandchildren competed in. Jim adored his one and only great-grandchild Miss Aspen Jean Wilson, and he was able to attend her first birthday party just weeks prior to his passing. Priceless. Although there is much good-spirited jesting about who his favorite was… it is agreed that we were all his favorite.

Visitation will be held from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m., Monday (Memorial Day), May 29, 2023, at “The Shop” 1421 NE 56th Street, Pleasant Hill, Iowa 50327. Friends are encouraged to visit between 4:00 pm and 5:30 pm with a service beginning at 5:30 pm officiated by Todd Doran of Runnells. Come dressed casually and celebrate his life with us!

A few worthy mentions: As Jim would say “If it’s not Scottish… ‘tis crap” which holds absolutely no meaning, but man he thought that was funny. Jim NEVER ONCE had a car accident or a speeding ticket (Although he talked his way out of one by mentioning he was an ambulance driver)! Jim traveled for General Motors to extraordinary places and he embraced the cultures he encountered especially Singapore and Mexico. He and his wife wintered in Mission, Texas and absolutely loved it. He was a truly kind soul and an awesome father. Our hearts are broken, but we will love you forever Dad!

Memorial contributions may be directed to the family in memory of James.

Condolences may be expressed at: www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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