Milbach, James J.

James J. Milbach, 81, of Independence, formerly of the Rowley and Walker area, died Monday morning, Dec. 23, 2013, at the ABCM Rehabilitation Centers West Campus in Independence.

Jim was born Feb. 26, 1932, near Walker, Iowa, the son of Charles C. and Dolores M. (Lammers) Milbach. He was a 1950 graduate of the Walker Consolidated High School in Walker. Following graduation, Jim served in the U.S. Army from Sept. 4, 1952 through Sept. 3, 1954. On Aug. 3, 1957, he was married to Sylvia J. Cashner in Walker. The couple farmed near Walker, until his retirement.

He is survived by four children, Keith (Deborah) Milbach, Rowley, Gary Milbach, Austin, Texas, Elaine (Pat) Collins, Cedar Rapids and Lisa (Joe) Kremer, Independence; 14 grandchildren; and seven brothers and sisters, Mae Louise Madison, Belle Plaine, Veronica Mackey, Center Point, Rita Hampton, McFarland, Wis., Jeannette Walsh, Cedar Rapids, Herb Milbach, Fort Collins, Colo., Linda Mueller, Quasqueton and Rose Ann Harrison, Cedar Rapids.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Sylvia (Cashner) Milbach in 2012.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 28, at St. John's Catholic Church, Independence, with the Rev. Paul McManus officiating. Burial will be held in the Sacred Heart Catholic Cemetery, Walker. Friends may call from 3 to 7 p.m. Friday at the Reiff Funeral Home & Crematory, Independence, where a military memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. and a parish wake service will be held at 7 p.m. Friday.

For more information or to leave an online condolence. please go to under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Dec. 24, 2013.