JAMES M. MORGAN, 87, of Quimby, Iowa, passed away Wednesday, August 31, 2016, surrounded by his family in the Cherokee Regional Medical Center, Cherokee, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 3rd, at 10:30 a.m. at the Quimby United Methodist Church with Rev. Barb Dinelli officiating. Burial will be in the Oak Hill Cemetery at Cherokee, Iowa. There will be a family prayer service on Saturday at 10:15 a.m. at the church. Visitation will be on Friday from 2 p.m. until 8 p.m. with the family present from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com

James Martin Morgan was born on January 23, 1929 in Marcus, Iowa. He was the only child born to Edward and Blanche (Stoneking) Morgan. Jim was five months old when his mother passed, but he was cared for by several family members and friends in the Washta and Marcus area. He attended school in Washta, Grand Meadow, Rock, and Tilden rural schools, and Marshalltown, Iowa. On November 5, 1946, Jim married Mary Jean Becvar in Kansas City, Kansas. After their marriage they resided in the Marshalltown, State Center, and Colo areas before moving to a farm south of Marcus to farm with his aunt and uncle, Inez and Delbert Lepper. When Jim began working for Simonsen Manufacturing in 1957, they purchased their first home and moved their family to Quimby. On December 31, 1990, Jim retired from his sales and service position. He was very thankful to make a living doing something he enjoyed and counted many coworkers, customers and competitors among his many friends. When Jim retired, he said he planned to travel, go to ballgames, and pick on his grandchildren. He carried out his plan.

Jim was a member of the Quimby United Methodist Church and served on several committees after his retirement. He was also a charter member of the Quimby Lions Club. Jim was an avid reader and was very grateful for the great selection of reading material at the Quimby Public Library. One of his favorite pastimes was bantering back and forth with his friends. He had a great sense of humor and could dish it out as fast as he could take it! He also enjoyed playing cards, attending sporting events, and traveling with Mary. Without a doubt, Jim's greatest passion was his family. He was very proud of his three daughters, and liked to take credit for picking out three great sons-in-law. Jim and Mary seldom missed a grandchild's activity. Jim was a man who always had an outstretched hand to his friends and outstretched arms to his family.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his loving wife Mary of 68 years.

He is survived by his three daughters and sons-in-law: Kathy (Mark) Simonsen, Cherokee, IA; Sally (Chuck) Knoben, Cherokee, IA; and Connie (Dave) Carstens, Cushing, IA; ten grandchildren: Kelly Kaufman, Cedar Rapids, IA; Kerry (Glenn) Selby, Gretna, NE; Kim (Tim) Wych, Cherokee, IA; Matt (Kristin) Simonsen, Eden Prairie, MN; Brian (Tonya) Carstens, Cushing, IA; Korrie Waldner, Cherokee, IA; Ben (Kellie) Carstens, Adel, IA; Jim Carstens, Cushing, IA; Kent Simonsen, Cherokee, IA; Kristi (Kelly) Kannegieter, Cherokee, IA; 24 great- grandchildren: Katie Kaufman; Marilyn, Frank, Andy, Carl Simonsen and Julia Constantineau; Kayla Selby; Karissa, Charlie, Kammy, Gavin, and Parker Wych; Kayden, Jack, and Kyle Waldner; Brock and Brittany Kannegieter; Morgan, Megan, Colin, and Justin Carstens; Frankie Allender, Bailey and Drake Carstens; sister-law Fern Harrison, Las Cruces, NM;