Roy James, 80 of Lynnville passed away Thursday evening, December 26, 2024 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics in Iowa City. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 am Friday, January 3, 2025 at the Heart of Worship Church near Lynnville. A private family burial will take place in the Woodland Cemetery in Lynnville at a later date. Visitation will begin after 12:00 pm Thursday, January 2, 2025 at the Heart of Worship Church with the family present from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm to greet friends and relatives. Holland-Coble Funeral Home of Montezuma is in charge of arrangements.

Roy Dale James youngest son of Lloyd Dale and Blanche Pauline (Roten) James, arrived on Christmas Day December 25, 1944. Born at home on the family farm east of Lynnville, Roy joined brothers Rex and Carl Ray. Young Roy participated in many pranks with his brothers and James cousins, his antics at times trying the patience of his good-natured mother and earning him his own desk in the school principal's office! Roy attended Lynnville-Sully High School where Coach Becker dubbed him "Wiggly" and he exceled in basketball and track, though farm chores kept him from playing football and baseball. His family was one of the last in the area to use horse-drawn farm implements. He graduated from Lynnville-Sully High School with the class of 1962.

Roy met Dianne Steen when Searsboro school consolidated with Lynnville-Sully schools. The high school sweethearts married on Valentine's Day 1964, celebrating 60 years of marriage in 2024. After high school, Roy worked for the city of Lynnville and then for Donnie Meredith Construction before settling into farming. He rented farms near Searsboro and Grinnell prior to purchasing a farm west of Montezuma not far from land homesteaded by his James pioneer ancestors.

Five children arrived in seven years: Melissa Lynn, Melanie Ann, Monica Sue, Marty Scott, and Matthew Dale. Roy was a hard-working provider who loved God, his wife, his family, and farming. He farmed his own acres and rented the Platt farm, building a sweet relationship with elderly owners Jeanne and Mary. He milked cows for many years and raised cattle and hogs. Roy enjoyed horses and was a past member of Lynnville Saddle Club. A funny horse-related incident earned him the family nickname "Rodeo Roy." All of the kids showed 4-H livestock, with stories of steers broken via hayrack, a crazy Holstein heifer, weanling colts too wild for the showring, and lots of hog drives. Roy also owned and operated James Masonry and Construction. Many area residences feature Roy's cement work and fireplace builds, and over the years he mentored several young men who joined his construction crews. The 80's farm crisis ended Roy and Dianne's farming journey, but God opened up a new venture: Old Mill Riverside Inn Bed & Breakfast in Lynnville. Together they ran the B&B, making many new friends and lots of family memories. Roy continued to do masonry jobs on the side and earned his insurance credentials, selling insurance for Bankers Life & Casualty and then State Farm Insurance. When the B&B season ended, they purchased their current home. Known to some as "Mr. Lynnville," Roy sat on the Lynnville city council and served three terms as mayor. His love for Lynnville included meticulous care of the town's flowers and the trees at Old Setts, and he built the Old Setts shower house. In his last years he served as an independent contractor groundskeeper and prison work release program coordinator at Unity Point Health, Grinnell, working until three weeks before his passing. He fulfilled his wish to wear out, not rust out.

An avid sports fan, summer nights found Roy listening to Minnesota Twins games on his Oliver tractor radio. The James farm drew athletes young and old, with many Sunday afternoon football battles waged on the ball diamond and James Barn Ball attaining legendary status! On several occasions, the entire Montezuma football team made their way to the James farm for friendly competitions. Roy enjoyed watching his daughters play six-on-six basketball and all of his kids excel in basketball (coaching boys' AAU), track, softball, baseball, and football. All of the kids went on to play sports in college. Through the years, Roy played in a volleyball league and several basketball leagues, finally unlacing his shoes and stepping off the court at age seventy. He continued to stay active by golfing in the Diamond Trail golf league, scoring two holes-in-one and recently winning the 2024 Horse Race. His love for athletics carried into the next generation, with most of his grandchildren (and now the great grands) exceling in sports. If humanly possible, Grandpa Roy and Grandma Dianne attended all competitions, with t-ball the rare exception!

Faith played a huge role in Roy's life. A second-generation Pentecostal in the Lynnville Church of God (now Heart of Worship), Roy raised his family to love the Lord, making sure his kids were in church every time the doors were open! Lynnville Church of God was known as the James Singing Church due to the extended James family raising the rafters in weekly song services, with Roy a long-time song leader. He taught Sunday school and served in many leadership capacities over the years. Band of Brothers held a special place in his heart. The Roy James family, later known as the James Gang, sang in area churches and at many events, with Roy leading, Dianne harmonizing and accompanying, and the kids joining in around the piano. In later years, extended family and friends partnered for several musical ministries at the Poweshiek County Fair.

Everyone knew Roy. He loved people and struck up friendships everywhere he went. The community awarded him Citizen of the Year in 2010. He found humor in so many things and coined memorable "Roy-isms." He loved to hunt and fish, with turkey and pheasant feathers, white tail deer, northern pike, and walleye trophies lining his basement walls. He wore out countless Rook decks and was a masterful player.

Roy's legacy of love includes wife Dianne; children, grands, and greats:

Melissa & Mark Doll:

Clarissa & Lawrence St. John, Atlas, Scout

Ciara & Ryan McDonald, Salem, Mayer, Armon, Ellis

Cyvannah & Andrew Vecchio, Crew, Whit, Bearett

Caden & Emilee Doll, Westen, Wyatt, Lily

Melanie Stielow:

Jeremiah & Logan Stielow, Liam, Kinsley

Sam & Logan Stielow, Westin

Monica Cullen & Jeff Clark:

Terence & Laura Cullen, baby due in July

Chase Cullen

Cassidy & Hunter Van Haalen, Truman, Foster

Connor Cullen

Marty James:

Taegan & Zach Stone, Winifred, Charles

Gareth James

Rowan James

Matt & Lisa James:

Haley & Will Huskisson

Aliya James

Dawson James

In-laws Karen & Tom Tish, Larry & Julie Steen, Kathy James, Maxine James; "adopted" son Aaron McCaslen; many nieces, nephews, & cousins; and friends too numerous to count.

Preceding Roy in death were parents Lloyd & Blanche James; parents-in-law Alfred & Paula Steen; brothers Rex & Carl.

Memorials will be shared with Heart of Worship, the city of Lynnville, and Lynnville-Sully schools.

The family asks that cards include funny Roy stories and/or Roy-isms.