James E. Judson, Jr.

James E. Judson, Jr., age 80, of Clarion, passed away Tuesday, August 9, 2005 at the Wright County Medical Center in Clarion.

A Celebration of Life will be held 11:00 A.M. on Friday, August 12, 2005 at the Holmes Baptist Church in Holmes, Iowa with Pastor Pat Odle and Pastor Dan Fields officiating.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 11, 2005 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at Ewing Dugger Helgeson Funeral Home, 602 North Main in Clarion.

James E. Judson, Jr. was born February 26, 1925, the son of James E. Judson, Sr. and Lucy Amelia Maryhew Judson, was born and educated in the Dows, Iowa area; the youngest of six children.

Jim married Bonnie Larsson on August 21, 1949, in Galt, Iowa. They have five children: Jeff Judson of Clarion, Jennifer Judson-Harms of New Hampton, Janelle Judson Rohrer of Burnsville, Minnesota, James E, Judson, III of Thomson, Illinois, and Jonathan Judson of Dedham, Iowa; twelve grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren.

Jim served in the U.S. Army between WWII and the Korean War, stationed in Fort Riley, Kansas. He worked for John Deere, then for the Chicago Great Western Railroad as a conductor/brakeman, and as a florist/designer along with his wife Bonnie as owners of Weitman’s Flowers from 1973 until 1998.

Jim loved his wife, children, grandchildren; and great-grandchildren. He loved the Lord and his family at the Holmes Baptist Church. He was an avid gardener and enjoyed raising vegetables for his family and to give away to the many special people in his life. He was a Dixieland Jazz fan and used to shop at Goodwill and other second-hand stores for 78 RPM records in the many different towns his railroading career took him to. His children grew up listening to Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Aritie Shaw and other jazz bands which sparked many lively conversations about the virtues of rock’n roll vs jazz. He also loved classical guitar and piano music. He loved playing billiards and pocket billiards, fishing for northern pike in the Iowa River, was a coin collector for 47 years, was an avid crossword puzzle fan.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two older sisters, an older brother and an infant brother. He is survived by one older sister, Marge Squier of Iowa Falls. He will be remembered by those who loved him as a loving compassionate man who had a great sense of humor.