James “Jim” Warrender
James L. “Jim” Warrender, 87, of Cicero, Indiana, formerly of Quimby, Iowa, passed away December 29, 2018 following a long fight with COPD.
Memorial services were held on Saturday, January 19, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the Boothby Funeral Home in Cherokee, Iowa. Pastor Barb Dinelli officiated.
Burial was in the Quimby Cemetery at Quimby, Iowa.
There were military rites at the graveside by the Quimby American Legion, Cherokee V.F.W. and the Cherokee American Legion. Online condolences can be left at www.boothbyfuneral.com
Jim was born July 17, 1931 at Cherokee, Iowa to Delgarno & Lois (Hind) Warrender. He graduated from Quimby High School.
Jim served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict as a forward observer and was honorably discharged as a Sergeant.
On August 23, 1953 he was married to Ethel Fee in Quimby, Iowa.
Jim had worked as a heavy equipment operator and a salesman throughout his life, retiring first from Simonsen Industries and then Schoon Construction in Cherokee.
Jim always had a joke or a story to tell and he never met a stranger. He has friends all over the world. He spent the last few years connecting with relatives around the globe and enjoyed talking with them on the phone.
When he would post on Facebook, he always enjoyed seeing how many “likes” he received and how many different countries they came from.
Jim and Ethel spent mornings at the Cicero Coffee Company, where owners Jerry and Brandy had a sign made to reserve their favorite table.
He enjoyed traveling to new places, going to the Indy 500 race, watching Indy car and NASCAR on TV, photography, genealogy, politics, and spending time with his grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Jim was a Life Member of the Second Indianhead Division Association and served as President from 1998-2000.
He and Ethel made many friends though the organization and through the years enjoyed taking grandchildren with them for the annual reunions around the country.
He was also a member of the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Laurie Warrender; a brother, John Warrender; a half-brother, Alec Warrender; and a half-sister, Mae Murdock.
He is survived by his wife Ethel of Cicero, IN; a daughter, Wendy (Vandy) Gillespie of Noblesville, IN; his grandchildren: Tia (Mike) Roland of Noblesville, IN; Tyler (Stephanie) Flanigan of Noblesville, IN; Klancy Peterson of Noblesville, IN; Megan Gillespie of St. Louis, MO; Mason Gillespie of Taiwan; six great-grandchildren: Elijah, McKenzie, McKayla, Kiya, Grant, and Kynlee; and a brother, Jerry (Marty) Warrender of Washta, IA.
