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James Cowell
JAMES COWELL
McGregor
James "Jim" LeRoy Cowell of McGregor died Friday, Oct. 3, 2014, at his home. Jim was 84.
His parents were Harley and Thelma (Powell) Cowell of the Big Foot area in Allamakee County, Iowa, near the town of Volney. Jim was born there April 2, 1930.
After graduating from Luana High School in 1949, Jim served in the U.S. Army.
Jim was married to Joi Rainbolt on Feb. 16, 2008, at First Lutheran (or Swede Ridge) Church in McGregor. Over the years, he worked at Agri Industries in McGregor, GenCor Bituma in Marquette, and at the Pattison Sand Mine Co. in Clayton. Jim retired in 1992, but kept busy in his small blacksmith and welding shop at home, making repairs for countless friends and neighbors.
Active in the community, he served the town of McGregor in several positions: city council member, street commissioner, firefighter and police officer.
Jim also volunteered as an EMT on the Mar-Mac Rescue Squad for 30 years and was a 50-year member of the American Legion. The Chamber of Commerce named Jim Citizen of the Year twice – in 1975 and 1995.
Among his skilled works are a scale-model steam locomotive built for the Marquette Depot Railroad Museum and a collection of scale-model semis used in parades now permanently housed by the Froelich Foundation. Jim's legacy is also visible in the custom wrought iron he crafted for homes, businesses and churches throughout Clayton County.
Surviving Jim are his wife, Joi; daughter, Linda, mother of Brent; and son, Jeff (Billie), father of Trish, Amy and Ryan. Jim also has four great-grand-children, Parker and Brody (Trish), Lily (Amy) and Eva (Ryan). Also surviving are one brother, Don (Pat) Cowell; and an aunt, Lillian Stockton.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Ruby Klein and Ethel Odegard; and one brother, Dewey Cowell.
Memorial services are 2 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 12, at Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service, McGregor, with a visitation from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home. The Rev. Bruce Hanson will be the officiant. Inurnment will be at a later date.
Thornburg-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of McGregor is helping the family with the arrangements.
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