James Wllis

James Richard Willis, age 73, of Aplington, Iowa, was born the son of George McKinley and Dotha Maryena (Eckles) Willis on March 7, 1947, at the DeBoer Sisters’ Maternity Home in Aplington, Iowa. He graduated from Aplington High School in 1965, where he especially enjoyed FFA. Jim continued his education at Iowa State University in 1969, receiving a B.S. degree in Dairy Science.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army in February of 1970 and took basic training at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, Washington. He received AIT training to be a medic at Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio, Texas, reported to Fort Ord, California and processed to South Vietnam. He was assigned to the 11th Armored Cavalry as a combat medic operating in the central part of South Vietnam and then was assigned with the 184th Artillery Unit near DMZ. After returning to the States in August of 1971, he served as a corpsman at Irwin Army Hospital at Fort Riley, Kansas. Jim was honorably discharged as Specialist 5th Class in December of 1971.
On August 2, 1970, Jim was united in marriage with Janelle Maxine Patton at the First Methodist Church in Gowrie, Iowa. After returning from the service Jim began farming on the family farm west of Aplington and managed a dairy operation.
Jim was a member of the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church in Steamboat Rock, Iowa. Jim enjoyed attending military reunions regularly. Through the years Jim had served as a volunteer EMT for the Aplington Ambulance, 4-H leader, Vice President of North Central Dairy Herd Improvement Association and the Butler County Farm Bureau Board.
As a generational farmer, Jim cherished the years working alongside his father, siblings and especially with his sons. Jim was an avid ISU Cyclone fan and always enjoyed following his grandchildren’s activities. Jim enjoyed traveling with his wife to Hawaii, Alaska, and many states from the east coast to the west coast.
Jim passed away on Monday, February 22, 2021, at Parker Place in Parkersburg, Iowa. He was preceded in death by his parents.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 50 years, Janelle Willis of Aplington; two sons, Jason (Brenda) Willis of Wentzville, MO, and Jared (Allison) Willis of Ames; six grandchildren, Ally, Drew and Tana Willis, Makenna, Colin and Kyla Willis; three brothers, Raymond (Emily) Willis of Elizabethtown, KY, Paul (Norleen) Willis of Aplington, and David (Ila) Willis, Grinnell, IA; two sisters, Roberta Hafenstein, Philomath, OR, and Elaine Forry of Iberia, OH; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral Services were at 2:00 p.m., on Friday, February 26, 2021, at the Steamboat Rock Baptist Church in Steamboat Rock, Iowa, with burial in the Pleasant View Cemetery in Aplington. Memorials may be directed to the family. Redman Funeral & Cremation Services in Aplington is in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.redman-schwartz.com