James D. Spear, formerly of Marion, Iowa, passed away Thursday, Oct. 17, 2024, after a long battle with diabetes, heart problems and ultimately pancreatic cancer. Jim was born Jan. 8, 1946, the third son of Wm. Everett Spear and Frieda H. Martinson. The family resided in Amber, Iowa, a small village of 12 families located near Monticello, Iowa. When Jim was a year old, the family moved to Anamosa, Iowa, and when he was eight they moved to Marion, Iowa. Jim was a three sports letterman at Marion HS where he was on the last football team coached by Les Hipple and was captain of the first baseball team in 1964.
After graduation from high school, he attended Northeast Missouri State Teachers College in Kirksville, Mo. While in attendance at NEMO he met the love of his life, Katherene Countryman from Newton, Iowa. When asked how they met, he always responded that she was a pick-up, before explaining that he had stopped to assist her and her mother when they were driving back to Kirksville after a long weekend. Prior to graduation from NEMO, he received his draft notice and enlisted in the US Army in January 1968. While attending advanced training at Fort Devens, Mass., Kathy and Jim were married and he was given orders to go to Vietnam. Jim served his country for 24 years.
After Vietnam he served as a recruiter in Indianapolis and Ames, Iowa and completed six years of duty in Augsburg Germany where he was promoted to 1SG and awarded the Meritorious Service Medal. He was then assigned as Inspector to the Office of the Inspector General, 1st US Army, Fort Meade, Md. He graduated from the US Army Sergeant Majors Course at Ft Bliss, Texas, was promoted to Sergeant Major and assigned to Fort Leavenworth, Kan., US Army Combat Developments Activity. Upon retirement from the Army, he worked for the Department of Veteran Affairs Memorial Programs Activity.
Jim is survived by his wife Kathy of 56 years; his son, James Jr. and his wife, Teresa Spear; and daughter Amy, and her husband Eric Shumaker; four grandsons, Cameron and Cael Spear and Brayden and Cole Shumaker; his oldest brother, Don; and younger sister, Nancy.
He was preceded in death by his parents; older brother, Kenneth; and nephew, Jeff Spear.
A visitation will be from 8 to 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 25, 2024, at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Leavenworth National Cemetery with full military honors. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to your favorite charity.