Maxwell, The Rev. James D. II

The Rev. James D. Maxwell II, 95, passed into the presence of His Lord at 5:10 a.m. Monday, Feb. 20, 2012, at Maranatha Manor in Sebring, Fla., after a brief illness. When he was 14, the same year his mother died, James accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior under the ministry of Ezra Temple, an evangelist known as “The Tramp Preacher.”

James graduated from high school in Shellsburg, Iowa. In 1938, James and Helen Lubbock were united in marriage. He first farmed in Shellsburg and later in Vinton, Iowa. In 1953, he sold the farm and enrolled in Northwestern College in Minnesota, to prepare for the ministry. He completed his undergraduate work at Prairie Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada, and received his master's degree from Trinity College in Florida.

Rev. Maxwell taught at two Bible colleges, Omaha (now Faith) Baptist Bible College and Peace River Bible Institute in Alberta, Canada. Later he started five Baptist congregations in Colorado and Arizona, as well as serving as interim pastor in several churches.

The Rev. and Mrs. Maxwell loved to travel, visiting 49 states and about 20 foreign countries. Their younger daughter, Ruth, joined them on a trip around the world in 1971.

James took a personal interest in everyone he met and had friends all over the country. Hundreds of people came to know Christ as their Savior under his ministry, and more than 10 men were called into the ministry when he was their pastor.

Rev. Maxwell was preceded in death by his father and mother, Thomas and Alta Maxwell of Shellsburg; his wife of more than 70y years, Helen Lubbock Maxwell; his sister, Genevieve; and his brother, Laurence.

He is survived by a son, James III of Ankeny; daughters, Sharon McGrew of Florissant, Colo., and Ruth McFarland of Fairplay, Mo.; six grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a half brother, John Maxwell of Cedar Rapids; and nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Ankeny Memorial Funeral Home, 4208 N. Ankeny Blvd., Ankeny. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 23, at Ankeny Baptist Church, 2842 SW Third St., with the Rev. David Strope officiating. The committal service will be held at First Baptist Church of Vinton, with the Rev. Don Alden and the Rev. Zach Zajicek officiating. Burial will be at Oakwood Cemetery near Shellsburg, Iowa.

Memorials may be given to the Library Fund at Faith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary, 1900 NW Fourth St., Ankeny, IA 50023.

Online condolences may be made at .

Published in The Gazette Feb. 22, 2012.