James W. "Jim" Hanley III
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 CLEAR LAKE - James W. "Jim" Hanley III, 61, died peacefully at his home in Clear Lake after a heroic battle with cancer.
A celebration of life memorial service will be held at 1:30 p.m. today (April 16, 2010) at First Congregational Church, 205 W. Tenth Ave N., Clear Lake, where Jim was a longtime member, with the Rev. Michael C. Nash officiating. Private family inurnment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the family.
Jim was born on Oct. 21, 1948, in Mason City, Iowa, to James W. Hanley Jr. and Margaret (Patton) Hanley.
During childhood he was a Boy Scout and later attained the rank of Eagle Scout. Jim graduated from Mason City High School in 1967 and was a member of the Mohawks' undefeated 1965 championship football team, as a kicker and end.
Jim attended Iowa State University, playing football and studying political science and was a member of Delta Upsilon.
He returned to Mason City and began a 27-year career at Yelland & Hanes, first as inventory clerk and later sales manager and partner. A nephew of Annie Yelland, Jim treasured his relationship with the Hanes family. Office supplies and sales were in his blood and he truly enjoyed helping his customers. Most recently, he worked for PSI in Mason City.
Jim met Alice Diekema while the pair worked at Yelland & Hanes, and it was love at first sight. Married in 1973, they moved to Clear Lake in 1979.
They were blessed with three wonderful children, John, 32, Adam, 29, and Theresa, 25. Jim always was proud of his family. They meant the world to him. He was excited to move into a townhome in downtown Clear Lake in 2007, where he could keep a bird's-eye view on the summer action from his balcony.
Jim was the quintessential nice guy. He always had a knack to solve any problem and eagerly devoted time, energy and talent to helping others. Whether installing office furniture, building play equipment, packing a moving truck, maintaining a lawn, or fixing things around the house, Jim was the guy to call. His fondest memories were of time spent at work or play with his many friends, family, colleagues and customers.
Jim loved sports and followed Clear Lake High School, Iowa State, the L.A. Dodgers and Minnesota Vikings with vigor, but he always wanted to see a good game. He enjoyed sailing, classic cars, traveling, crossword puzzles, grilling, dinners with friends, often on the deck at Ge-Jo's and sitting on his balcony with a glass of wine or champagne.
Jim cherished his family, friends, life in Clear Lake, and several pets, from his childhood Dalmatian "Colonel Popcorn" to his current cat, "Sophie."
Jim was thankful to have the Mercy Cancer Center team to help him with his valiant fight against cancer. When the time came to focus on comfort, dignity, and quality of life, he was blessed to have the caring team at Hospice of North Iowa.
Jim will be dearly missed by his wife of 36 years, Alice; his children, John Hanley and wife, Amy, of Lawrence, Kan., Adam Hanley and wife, Sara, of Longmont, Colo., and Theresa Hanley of Clear Lake; sister, Lynda Hanley; niece, Kristine Woodhouse, and partner, Richard Lorenzini, and niece Katherine McGerald and husband, Evan, all of Ridgefield, Conn.; cousin, Jean Fortune, and husband, Dave, of Plano, Texas, and cousin, David Patton, and wife, Roberta, of Naples, Fla.; as well as several nieces, nephews, other relatives and many good friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, James W. Hanley Jr. in 1990; father-in-law, John Diekema, in 1998; mother-in-law, Alice Diekema, in 2005; his mother, Margaret Hanley, in 2008; and his grandparents; uncles and aunts.
Ward Van Slyke Colonial Chapel, Clear Lake, 641-357-2193.
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Sunday, September 05, 2010 
