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Brian Lee James
Brian Lee James
Swisher
Brian Lee James, 65, formerly of West Liberty, passed away Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023, at Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy in Hiawatha.
Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 8, at the First Church United, West Liberty. Visitation will be 5 to 8 p.m. Monday at the Henderson-Barker Funeral Home in West Liberty. Burial will be in the Ridgewood Cemetery, North Liberty. Memorials may be made Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy.
Brian was on born Feb. 23, 1958, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of L. Chad and Corrine (Brown) James. He was a graduate of West Liberty High School in 1976, later receiving he B.A. from the University of Plattville in ag economics and his M.A. in public administration from the University of Iowa. He was united in marriage to the former Bonnie Barnhill June 20, 1980, in West Liberty.
In his early years Brian had farmed with his father, later serving as a city manager in Pocahontas, West Branch, Knoxville, North Liberty and Oskaloosa. Following his retirement Brian and Bonnie purchased and are operating Zuber’s Homestead Hotel in Homestead, Iowa. He was an avid fan of the Iowa Hawkeyes and Dallas Cowboys.
He is survived by his wife, Bonnie of Swisher, two children, Tyler (Kimberly) James of West Des Moines, Iowa, and Jaclyn (Eric) Ostrem of Ankeny; as well as three grandchildren, Ada and Miles James and Aspyn Ostrem.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Craig James.
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