Susan Jane James, 1949 - 2024

JAMES, EVANS, THOMPSON

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 3/11/2024 at 14:09:48

The Mapleton Press
11 January 2024

Susan James, age 74, of Ute, Iowa, passed away on Thursday, January 4, 2024, at her residence of Ute, Iowa.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 10, 2024, at the Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Mapleton, Iowa.

The Armstrong-Van Houten Funeral Home of Ute and Mapleton, Iowa, are in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Susan Jane James, the daughter of Lyle and Josephine (Evans) Thompson, was born on December 14, 1949, in Ute, Iowa. She grew up in Ute and received her education at Charter Oak-Ute High School graduating with the class of 1968.

After high school, Susan moved to Sioux City, Iowa and began working for Zenith TV. On November 8, 1969, Susan was united in marriage to Lawrence “Butch” James in Sioux City. The couple was blessed with three children: Larry, Shane, and Amy. The family lived in Sioux City for five years before moving back to Ute.

Susan enjoyed being a stay at home wife and mother raising her children. When her children were older she ran an in-home daycare then worked at IBP, Sparky’s in Charter Oak, and most recently had been employed at Ampride in Ute for the last 10+ years.

Susan enjoyed gardening, collecting antiques (especially jugs), baking, and cooking. She will be remembered for her delicious desserts and homemade fudge. Susan loved to drink coffee and wine, listen to country music, and cows. She loved her job at Ampride and her daily coffee drinkers that would come in to see her. Susan will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.

Left to cherish her memory include her loving husband Lawrence “Butch” James of Ute, IA; children Larry (Jacque) James of Neola, IA, Shane (Christine) James of Ute, IA and Amy (Garrett) Trucke of Soldier, IA; 11 grandchildren: Jacob James, Mandi Shire, Minnie Khol, Angelica Cerda-Wilkinson, Josie James, Derek James, Wyatt Trucke, Austin Trucke, Shelby James, Sidney Trucke, and Levi Trucke; 7 great-grandchildren; brothers David Thompson of Onawa, IA and Steven (Laurie) Thompson of Sioux City, IA; sisters Barbie Carstensen of Ute, IA and Jana Thompson of Mapleton, IA; extended family and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents Lyle and Josephine Thompson; and sister Nancy Leeper.