March 19, 2024

James R. Wormley

Jan. 25, 2015

James (Jim) Richard Wormley, of Newton, died peacefully Sunday afternoon, Jan. 25, 2015, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines, after a brief illness.

Jim, 61, the son of Richard Benjamin and Marjorie Helen (McClean) Wormley, was born Jan. 20, 1954, in Newton. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and his paternal and maternal grandparents.

A lifelong resident of the Newton area, he had attended Kellogg and Newton schools. Over the years he had been employed and cared for by Progress Industries in Newton, for which his family members are very grateful.

Those left to honor Jim’s memory include his brother Sam Wormley (Cheryl Lawson) of Ames; his sister Kathleen (Paul) Siemsen of Fairfield; and his nieces and nephews: Heather Farha, Abram Siemsen, Meredith Siemsen, Noah Siemsen, Katy Lawson and Sarah Cartwright; as well as seven great-nieces and nephews.

Jim particularly enjoyed flying in small airplanes with his father Richard of Newton, and his nephew, Abram Siemsen of St. Louis, Mo. Jim lived in humble defiance of such considerable adversity that for those who didn’t know him well, it would have been easy to overlook the attributes that more truthfully defined him. He loved music. He had a vivid imagination and playful spirit. He was endlessly inquisitive about how things worked. He was polite and well-mannered. His memory was downright astonishing.

Pence-Reese Funeral Home in Newton, has been entrusted with the arrangements. A graveside service and burial for Jim will be at 1 p.m., Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Newton Memorial Park Cemetery with Pastor David Rex of Newton, officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's name may be sent to Progress Industries in Newton and Iowa Public Radio. Online condolences may be left at www.pencefh.com.