James Duwelius

CEDAR FALLS – James Ross Duwelius, 96, passed away peacefully April 30, 2024 at Sartori Hospital, surrounded by family. 

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, May 22, at 10:30 am at the First Presbyterian Church in Grundy Center. The family will receive visitors one hour prior to the service. A burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery in Grundy Center. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Grundy County Memorial Hospital or Grundy Center Community Schools Foundation.

James (Jim) was born on April 21,1928, the youngest child of Arnold T and Janet M Duwelius in Elkhart, Indiana. He went to school in Elkhart and graduated from high school there. He went on to Indiana State University where he received a bachelor's degree in education, and taught Industrial Arts for a year in Huntington, Indiana.

While attending college, Jim fell in love and married his college sweetheart, JoAnne Hook. They married December 27, 1951. Jim and JoAnne moved to Grundy Center where he operated and later owned Hooks Grocery for over 30 years.

The couple raised three daughters in Grundy and enjoyed being active in the community. Jim was a member of the Rotary, First Presbyterian Church and served on the Grundy School Board from 1965-1974.

Jim was an avid sports fan. Living in Grundy he went to all of the high school games. When he was unable to get around very well, he would park his car and watch and listen to the football games from his car. He loved the Iowa State Cyclones, and while his girls were in college in Ames, he went to most all of the Cyclone football games and many of the basketball games. He loved watching his grandkids play sports and even coached one of their Gus Macker teams.

After retiring, Jim loved spending time in his yard, mowing and planting flowers, feeding the birds and the squirrels. He and JoAnne spent their winters in Florida for many years. If you could be outside Jim was outside.

After losing his wife of almost 70 years, Jim moved to the Western Home Communities in Cedar Falls where he lived the remainder of his life.

Jim is survived by his three daughters, Jan Duwelius, Jodi Deery (John), Jane Matthews (TK); his grandchildren, Jennifer Conder (Jason), Johnny Deery, Ben Sever, and Michael Matthews and six great grandchildren. Jim is also survived by his sister Isy Bosse. He was preceded in death by his wife JoAnne, son in law, Ray Sever, and brother Tom Duwelius.