James Carrington Yeager

James Carrington Yeager, 73, of Keosauqua, died December 27, 2014 under hospice care at Van Buren County Hospital, Keosauqua. He was born August 24, 1941, in Kokomo, Ind., to Henry Carrington and Mildred Warrender Yeager. When Jim was three, they moved to LaGrange, Ill. Jim graduated from Lyons Township High School and then Parsons College in Fairfield, Iowa. He and Judith Johnston were married in Fairfield September 4, 1965. Jim was a Controller for Montgomery Ward retail stores from 1965 to 1981. Prior to his first assigned store, he was drafted and served in the US Army from 1966-1968. He was stationed in the Panama Canal Zone and he and Judith lived in Panama City for 18 months before returning to LaGrange. They then moved to Decatur, Ill., Hazel Crest, Ill., Des Moines, Iowa and then Little Rock, Ark. where they lived for 29 years. Jim also worked as an Accounting Supervisor for Affiliated Foods; as Controller for Clear Mountain Distributing; and as Office Manager for New Age Beverage Division of Harbor Distributing. He and Judith also started a business, Footlights, Inc. in 1986. Jim was a member of St. Mark's Episcopal Church where he served on the Vestry and as an usher. He enjoyed being a volunteer coach for several Olympics of the Mind teams for his children's elementary schools, a T-ball coach at the Y, and a member of the Wild Turkey Players Club. After Jim retired in 2003, he and Judith moved to Van Buren County near Keosauqua. Jim was an active member of the Lions, the Bentonsport Improvement Association, and Coordinator for the Bentonsport Historic Rose Garden. He was a member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Ottumwa having served on the Vestry. He was also a member of the Good Samaritan Center's Advisory Board in Keosauqua. Jim is survived by his wife, Judith; two children: Matthew C. Yeager (Brenna Rinaberger) of Fairfield; Sarah Yeager Boelhouwer (Eric) of Atlanta, Ga.; and five grandchildren: Elizabeth, Ethan, Elijah, Elliott Boelhouwer and Violet Yeager; and a sister, Marilyn Shipman. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Janis Nagy. Visitation will open at 5 p.m. Friday, January 2, 2015 at the Pedrick Funeral Home in Keosauqua with family present from 6 to 7 p.m. followed by a Celebration of Life Service. The Memorial service will be at Trinity Episcopal Church, 204 East Fifth St., Ottumwa on Saturday, January 3 at 2 p.m. Rev. Vincent Bete` officiating. The body has been cremated and the burial of cremains will be in Lebanon Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be made to the Keosauqua Lions, Bentonsport Historic Rose Garden or Trinity Episcopal Church, Ottumwa may be left at the funeral home, church or mailed to the family at 21555 Iris Trail, Keosauqua, Iowa 52565.