Bromwell, James Edward

James Edward Bromwell, 89, died Friday, Sept. 11, 2009, in Mercy Hospice following a brief illness. Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday at Friends Meeting House in Whittier, 3200 Whittier Rd., Springville. A reception will follow at the Community Center in Whittier.

Surviving children and their families are as follows: Maxwell Thomas Bromwell; Catherine (Al) MacDuff Bromwell Blair and their children, Stephanie Dorothy Blair and Jennifer Silva Blair; James Edward (Sandra) Bromwell V and their son, James Edward Bromwell VI; son-in-law John R. Dent and his children, John Maxwell (Deborah) Dent and their children, Jacob Langston and Andrew Joseph; Oliver Langston (Marcy) Dent and their children, Lucy Jean and Benjamin Maxwell; Anna (Michael) MacDuff Dent Metheny and their children, Thomas John and Ryan Michael; Catherine Jean (Luke) Dent Ekins.

Jim Bromwell was preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Bennett; and daughter, Helen Kirk Bromwell Dent.

Born March 26, 1920, in Cedar Rapids, to Olive Marguerite MacDuff and Maxwell Thomas Bromwell, Jim graduated from Franklin High School in 1938, and received his undergraduate degree in 1942 from the University of Iowa, where he was a member of Phi Kappa Psi. He served as an officer in the U.S. Army during World War II, stationed in New York and Paris, and was honorably discharged as a Captain in 1946. He married Dorothy Bennett on Sept. 10, 1946, in Des Moines. After earning an MBA from the Harvard Business School in 1947, he received a law degree from the University of Iowa in 1950; then passed the Iowa Bar and began practicing in Cedar Rapids. From 1957 to 1960, he served as the Assistant Linn County Attorney and contributed to the formation of Life Investors Corp.

In 1960, he began two terms as U.S. Representative, representing the 2nd District of Iowa. His service included significant contributions to the Judiciary Committee that created and ultimately helped pass the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

Jim Bromwell had great respect for his country, and was especially fond of Iowa, poetry, history, farming, genealogy and horses. His love for his family and friends was exceptional, as was his deep and abiding faith.

Memorial contributions in honor of Mr. Bromwell may be sent to Whittier Monthly Meetings, 3200 Whittier Rd., Springville, IA 52336.