JAMES LEE HULLINGER
James Lee Hullinger was born June 13, 1934 to Carl and Ressa (Lovely) Hullinger at their home in Ellston, IA. He was welcomed by Carl Jr, Donald, Betty, and Harold then joined later by Danny and Jane. The family moved to Clarinda, IA when Jim was in the ninth grade where he graduated with the Class of 1953.
Jim attended college in Clarinda for two years before he and three classmates joined the U.S. Army. After training, Jim was shipped to Korea as a combat field medic. Jim was honorably discharged in March 1961.
After returning home, Jim went back to college at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. After graduation, Jim taught speech 100 at the college. Jim wanted his PhD, so he went to the University of Missouri at Columbia for three and a half years. Jim got his Doctorate Degree in Speech Communications and went back to Omaha to teach. Then he went to Coolidge, AZ to teach, returning after four years back to Omaha. Jim transferred to the University of Nebraska at Kearney, NE and taught until his retirement in 2001. Jim took debate teams all over the country for competition winning numerous awards.
After retiring, Jim returned to his farm in Redding where he enjoyed his Belgian horses. He bought a hay rack and gave many rides to groups, families, friends, and wedding parties, including having Mike Wimer drive it for his own wedding. Because of liability purposes Jim switched to using his 1934-B John Deere instead of the Belgians.
On August 16, 2003, Jim married the love of his life, Rosemary Crawford Schlapia. After seven years of courting, Jim asked Rosemary’s mother for permission to marry her. Jim gained a step-daughter, Judi, and her husband, Travis, and two grandsons, Bryce and Brock Shaha. He thought the world of this family and enjoyed watching the boys wrestle and play football, even though he didn’t know anything about wrestling. Jim fit right in with the Crawford family too.
Jim was active in the Masonic Lodge, where he was a past Worshipful Master, as well as past commander for the American Legion, Ringgold Post #172. Jim also was a member of the Shriners, Eastern Star, Sons of American Legion, and the Mount Ayr United Methodist Church. When the First Christian Church in Mount Ayr was working at the Iowa State Fair to raise money for their new church, Jim was there helping them. Jim enjoyed singing and belonged to the Ringgold Singers, The Community Singers, and went to the Tingley Meal Site to sing with The Tingley Band on Fridays. Jim sang a special song “Always” to his bride at their wedding. Jim also enjoyed being in plays directed by Scott Marcum of Blockton, IA.
Jim peacefully passed away November 23, 2018 surrounded by family. He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; in-laws, William and Catherine Crawford; brothers; Carl Jr (Betty), Donald (Virginia), Harold and Danny; nephews Kendall Crawford and Robert Hullinger.
Jim is survived by his wife, Rosemary; step-daughter, Judi (Travis) Shaha, and two grandsons he thought the world of, Bryce and Brock, all of Mount Ayr. Other survivors are two sisters, Betty (Bob) Goff of Spokane, WA, Jane (Jim) Lamascus of Milwaukee, OR; two sisters-in-law; Oralyn Hullinger of Salina, CA and Katharine Hullinger of Ventura, CA; brothers and sisters-in-law; Donald (Cham) Crawford, Larry (Marlene) Crawford, Ann Beech, John (Donna) Crawford, Harold (Melynda) Crawford, Bernard (Marla) Crawford, and Doris Crawford; nieces, nephews, cousins; very special and like family were Rosemary’s step children; Mark Schlapia, Jean Rezmer, Janis Schuberth, Joan Woods and their families; and a host of friends.
Memorials are to the American Legion and the Public Library, both in Mount Ayr. Online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.
Masonic service by Dwayne Henrichs and Faith Lodge #179 A.F. and A.M. was at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 27, 2018 at Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Funeral services were at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at the United Methodist Church in Mount Ayr, Iowa.
Officiating was Rev Melvin Ammon and Rev Edward Shields.
Vocalist was Deb Cannon and the songs were “How Great Thou Art” and “Amazing Grace”.
Casketbearers were Travis Shaha, Bryce Shaha, Brock Shaha, Mark Schlapia, Bernard Crawford, Jordan Crawford, John Crawford, Harold Crawford, Charlie Jeanes and Joe Washburn. Honorary casketbearers were Larry Crawford, Donald Crawford, Rick Cox, Rodney Hullinger, John McGilvery, Terry Hullinger, Lloyd Jones, Glen Christensen, Fred Shields and Royce Dredge. Military honors by Ringgold Post #172 American Legion and Iowa Army Honor Guard.
Burial was at the Ellston Cemetery in Ellston, Iowa.
