Charles A. James, 87, of Sully, was called home by the Lord on Thursday morning, Nov. 19, 2020, at Grinnell Unity Point Regional Hospital.
A public funeral service was held at 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 23, at Heart of Worship Church in Lynnville with the Rev. Tom Pool officiating. A face mask was required for those attending the funeral service. Interment was at Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville.
Memorials may be designated to Heart of Worship Pay It Forward Building Fund, mailed in care of Smith Funeral Home, PO Box 368, Grinnell, IA 50112. Memories and condolences may be shared with Charles’ family online at www.smithfh.com.
Charles Albert James was born April 19, 1933, to Harold and Elizabeth (Roten) James. He attended school at Black Oak Country School and Lynnville High School. While in high school, he contracted rheumatic fever and spent six weeks in bed. This caused him to become a very patient man. After graduating in 1952, he attended Capitol City Commercial College in Des Moines. He was employed at Van Wyk Freight, KBOE Oskaloosa, and finally Sully Cooperative until he retired in 1995.
Aug. 2, 1957, he was united in marriage to Joyce Meppelink, the love of his life. To this union, three children were born: Douglas, Dennis, and Janise. Charles and Joyce enjoyed doing house projects, gardening, and canning together. The highlight of each year was always taking a trip to PraiseFest in Branson, MO, and Lake of the Ozarks Gospel Sing. Some of the significant memories with the children included going on family vacations, attending school sports functions, seeing them in marriage, and later enjoying family gatherings with the addition of grandchildren. The home was always an open door to his grandchildren and their friends.
Charles was a perfectionist when it came to woodworking and helped his wife in this area with her craft business. Charles was a member and treasurer of Sully Lions Club for many years, always giving a willing hand to their many community projects. The last 20 years saw him working at Heart of Worship as a volunteer treasurer, helping in the kitchen, sorting clothes and shoes for Pay-It-Forward, finishing woodwork in the newly-remodeled church, and mowing the church lawn, first with a push mower and later with a riding lawn mower.
Charles is survived by his wife of 63 years, Joyce James of Sully; three children: Douglas (Lori) James of Stevensville, MI, Dennis (Anita) James of Killduff, and Janise (Doug) Gruver of Sully; seven grand-children: Elizabeth, Chris, Zachary (Katie), Colton (Nicole), Josiah James, and Abby and James Gruver; three great-grandchildren: Twins Kaci and Trent James, and a newborn, Charlie James; siblings: Russell James of Grinnell, Robert (Pauline) James of Rapid City, SD, and Earl (Linda) James of Lynnville.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Lois James; his sisters-in-law Ramona James, Florence Meppelink, Jean Meppelink, Greta and Merliyn Rykhoek, John Herbert, and Harvey Meppelink.
