James A. Baber

James A. Baber, 82, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2010, after a lengthy illness with Alzheimer’s disease.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. at Hamilton’s Southtown Funeral Home on Tuesday, June 15, with burial following at Sharon Cemetery in rural Wayne County alongside his beloved wife Betty Baber (Isaacs). A visitation will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday, June 14, with family present at Southtown Funeral Home.

James was born on June 11, 1928, to Lucretia (Langford) and Arthur Baber in rural Derby, Iowa. James was raised on a farm there and graduated from Derby High School. James married Betty G. Isaacs in 1951 and they were blessed with four children.

James began his career at Meredith Publishing in 1949 and retired in 1987. James was in the U.S. Army and served in Germany during the Korean Conflict. James had an incredible work ethic and was dedicated to both his career at Meredith and his family.

James and his wife, Betty, enjoyed traveling and camping with their children and in later years owned a home on Lake Rathbun that became a weekend destination for their children and grandchildren. In his later years, James enjoyed playing Bingo, tending to his vegetable garden, and feeding the birds and squirrels in his yard.

James is survived by his four children Dennis (Eilene) Baber, DeDe (John) Gorsche, Donna ( John) Bennett and Debra (Steve) Elsberry along with 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren, and his sisters Betty Sanders, Loyceine Mosher, and Nancy (Keith) Harvey, and other nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Betty, his parents and an infant sister.

For the past year, James resided at Emeritus Senior Living Center in Urbandale. His children would like to thank the wonderful staff for their care and devotion to Jim and his family.

Memorial contributions may be made to Jordan United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Association’s Greater Iowa Chapter.

www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com

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