James Venneman

JAMES VENNEMAN

Cedar Rapids

James W. Venneman, 77, of Cedar Rapids, passed away Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center, Cedar Rapids, following an accident due to a fall. Memorial Mass: 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 24, at St. Pius X Catholic Church, with the Rev. Phil Thompson and Deacon John Herman officiating. Inurnment will be in Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home, where a vigil will be at 4 p.m., and from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Helen; daughters, Luanne (David) Coziahr of Council Bluffs, Margaret (Blaine) Pass of Omaha and Michelle (Peter) Dalamaggas of Urbandale; grandchildren, William and Matthew Coziahr, Callista (Joe) Sibilia and Kylin Pass and Arianna and Nicholas Dalamaggas; siblings, John (Mae) Venneman of Tucson, Ariz., William (Faye) Venneman Jr. of Strawberry Point, Louise (Al) Hageman of Cedar Rapids, Alice (Jon) Stork of Cedar Rapids and Judy Colbert of Sigourney.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Mary Venneman; and brother-in-law, Mike Colbert.

James W. Venneman was born Oct. 16, 1937, in Iowa City, the son of William and Helen (Lodder) Venneman. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1956 to 1961. On Dec. 26, 1959, he married Helen A. Shonka in Independence. Jim owned and operated Green Lawn Irrigation for many years.

His many interests included the Good Earth Garden Club, member of the Eastern Iowa Bonsai Club and Linn Co. Rose Society, traveling to Hawaii numerous times and maintaining a spectacular garden at his home.

Memorials may be given in his name to Friends of Noelridge, 4900 Council St. NE, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402; Good Earth Garden Club Inc., P.O. Box 2417, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406; or 4RK9's Dog Training Club.

Online condolences may be left at www.cedar memorial.com under "obituaries."