Powers, Dr. William James 'Jim'

Dr. William James “Jim” Powers, 82, of Iowa City, died peacefully Monday, Oct. 17, 2011, at Briarwood Nursing Home in Iowa City. Memorial services will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, at First Presbyterian Church in Iowa City with Pastor Sam Massey officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Wednesday at Lensing Funeral Home, 210 Holiday Rd., Coralville.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Iowa City Hospice, Iowa State University Foundation, First Presbyterian Church (Iowa City) or Mercy Hospital Foundation of Iowa City.

Dr. Powers was born Jan. 23, 1929, in Des Moines, Iowa, the son of Frank Kingsley and Elsie Lage Powers. After moving to Cedar Rapids from Des Moines in 1936, he attended Johnson Grade School and graduated from Franklin High School in 1947. He received a B.S. degree from Iowa State University and a M.D. degree from the University of Iowa in 1954. He interned at St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth, Minn., then served as a medical officer in the U.S. Army for two years.

He was a family practice physician in Vinton, Iowa, for four years returning to Iowa City for a pathology residency at the VA Health Care System. After completing his residency, he entered the practice of pathology at Mercy Hospital, Iowa City, and was principal pathologist and director of the laboratory for 25 years.

Dr. Powers was a member of Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity, Phi Beta Pi medical fraternity and AOA medical fraternity. He was also a member of the Masonic Lodge. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church, where he served as elder and president of the church corporation. After his retirement, Dr. Powers volunteered with the Meals on Wheels program and was a member of the New Horizons Senior Band.

He was a past president of the Johnson County Medical Society and is an emeritus member of the Iowa State Medical Society, the American Medical Society, American Society of Clinical Pathologists and the College of American Pathologists.

He married his wife of 58 years, Nancy Dinges on Aug. 22, 1953, in Bedford, Iowa.

He is survived by his wife; his son, Thomas James Powers (Carrie) of Bixby, Okla.; and his daughter, Susan J. Powers of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; his grandchildren, Alexa, Ryan and Rebecca Powers of Bixby, Okla., and Katherine Powers of Glen Ellyn, Ill.; his nieces, Christine Powers Shaw of Omaha, Neb., and Sharon Powers of Youngstown, Pa.; grandniece, Natalie Shaw; grandnephews, Ryan and Joe Shaw, all of Omaha, Neb.; and his sister-in-law, Ellen Powers of Omaha, Neb.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, Frank K. Powers (Bud).

The family would like to thank Iowa City Hospice, Briarwood Nursing Home and Dr. Champion for the wonderful care that Jim received.

Online condolences may be directed to .

Published in The Gazette Oct. 18, 2011.