Usher, James Harley 'Jim'

James Harley “Jim” Usher, 78, of Hiawatha, formerly of Cedar Rapids, died Thursday, Oct. 25, 2012, at St. Luke's Hospital, Cedar Rapids. His family will greet friends from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 28, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion. Private family inurnment will take place at Walker Cemetery, Walker, Iowa. A Celebration of Life will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 29, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Marion, by Pastor Darran Whiting, with honors provided by the Cedar Rapids Fire Department Honor Guard.

Survivors include his wife of 59 years, Mary; son, James Dennis Usher of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Donna (Terry) Nielsen of Center Point; daughter, Mary Godwin of Cedar Rapids; daughter, Kate (Brian) Stapelkamp of Cresco; 11 grandchildren, Kristin, Nick, Shelley, Jeremiah, Briana, Rachel, Nathan, Leah, Ben, Marijo and Catherine; and 16 great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Leon Usher.

Jim was born Aug. 31, 1934, in Iowa City, the son of Wilber and Opal (McBurney) Usher. He graduated from Walker High School and Kirkwood Community College. Jim was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, having served with the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Korean War. He married Mary Ann Dvorak on March 1, 1953, in Cedar Rapids. Jim was a firefighter with the Cedar Rapids Fire Department for 26 years, retiring as assistant chief in 1984. He taught Fire Science at Kirkwood Community College for many years and assisted in the training of many local fire departments all over the state of Iowa. Jim was a member of the Iowa State Firefighter's Association and was also involved in community economic development in the Cedar Rapids area.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established in Jim's memory.

Please sign the online guest book for Jim at under obituaries.

Published in The Gazette Oct. 26, 2012.