Herrington, James Edwin

James Edwin Herrington

James Edwin Herrington departed this life on Oct. 19, 2012, at his daughter's home in Harlan, Iowa, following a lengthy illness, having attained the age of 79 years, 9 months and 19 days.

Jim was born Dec. 30, 1932, in Mount Ayr, Iowa, to Marion “Red” and Ruth Elizabeth (Jacobs) Herrington. Jim enjoyed growing up in Mount Ayr and Benton, Iowa, where he graduated with the class of 1952 from Benton High School.

On Dec. 1, 1952, James was united in marriage to Jean Bowen at Blockton, Iowa. From this union were born two daughters, Connie Jean and Pamela Kim. Jim then enlisted in the U.S. Army in January 1953 during the Korean War. Jim received his basic training at Camp Roberts in California and he was then stationed at Baumholder, Germany with the Army Corps of Engineers. From this unit he and one other were selected to go to Kaiserschlautern, Germany for Morse Code training to be translators.

After his honorable discharge as a corporal, Jim and Jean made their home in Clearfield, Iowa, where Jim worked in heavy equipment until 1960. They then moved to Marion, where Jim was employed by Collins Radio. He retired from Rockwell Collins as an industrial engineer in the telecommunications division in 1994.

Jim and Jean were devoted to family and friends and enjoyed working on their home and yard. Jim had a great sense of humor and one could expect to chuckle at some quip and one liner that would just pop out of his mouth.

After Jean's death in 2002, Jim was married to longtime friend of the family, Rosemary Freeze, in 2006. They have enjoyed spending time together and with their families. Jim was very proud of his grandchildren and their achievements and was happy to see his great-grandchildren come into the world. He was a die-hard Chicago Cubs and Iowa Hawkeye fan.

In addition to his parents and his first wife, Jean, Jim was preceded in death by his stepfather, Paul Dinkel; sister, Dolores Butler; brother, David Herrington; brothers-in-law, Merle Butler, Don Matthews, Eb Haley, Hollis Butler, Tim Johnston, Richard Routh, Don Graham, Frank Hulett and Charles Maurer; sisters-in-law, Helen Herrington, Mickey Dinkel, Annie Haley, Katie Butler and Bell Graham; and longtime friend, Noel Freeze.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary Herrington of Marion; his daughters, Connie Herringon and Pam and her husband, Roger Rust, both of Harlan; sons, Jim Freeze and his wife, Ann, and Tim Freeze and his wife, Shana, both of Robins; grandchildren, Ryan Denton and his wife, Breanne, of Bennington, Neb., Todd Denton and his wife, Ashley, of Dunlap, Iowa, Sarah and her husband, Josh Lesch, of Shelby, Iowa, Travis Rust and his wife, Ruth of Harlan, Tatum and her husband, Mac Lange, of Harlan, Hailey and Ian Freeze and Hunter and Noelan Freeze, all of Robins; seven great-grandchildren; his brother, Max Herrington of Atlantic, Iowa; stepbrother, Richard Dinkel of North Carolina; his sister, Mary Ann Matthews of Baytown, Texas; stepsister, Janet Dinkel of Keokuk; sisters-in-law, Teresa Herrington of Des Moines, Sally Pratte of St. Joseph, Mo., Alice Johnston of Fort Madison, Mickey Routh of Clearfield, Iowa, Sandy Hulett of Osage Beach, Mo., and Marty Maurer of Peosta; brothers-in-law, Joe Bowen and his wife, Alice, of Fort Madison, Larry Bowen and his wife, Sharon, of Benton, Iowa; Jerry Bowen of Benton, Don Maurer and his wife, Gail, of Manchester, Dean Maurer and his wife, Jean, of Delhi and Randy Maurer and his wife, Marla, of Manchester; nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.

Family will greet friends from 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday at Faith Lutheran Church in Marion. Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Faith Lutheran Church. Burial will follow later in the afternoon at the Benton Cemetery in Benton, Iowa.

Published Oct. 21, 2012 in The Gazette