Floyd "Jesse" James

Floyd “Jesse” James, age 80 and a long-time resident of Savanna, Illinois passed away Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at the Good Samaritan Nursing Facility, Mt. Carroll. A memorial service will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 16, 2017 at the Community Church of Christ in Savanna, with a visitation held from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m., prior to the service at the church.

Jesse was born March 3, 1937 in Washington Township near Savanna, the son of Floyd Trelor and Florence Mae (Noble) James, Sr. He grew up in a modest home blessed with four brothers that shaped his love for family. He started his working career at the Wooden Shoe Ice Cream Stand in Savanna when he was 15. A year later, Jesse was learning the dry-cleaning business that he would eventually own. After high school, Jesse served in the US Army Reserves for five years. Jesse met his future wife in 1961 and married Linda Oberheim on August 4, 1962 in Freeport, Illinois. They raised two children and celebrated 55 years of marriage.

At the age of 34, Jesse owned and operated the Savanna Dry Cleaners from 1971 to 1985. He was a member of the International Fabricare Institute and had a real passion for the business. He also worked at the Savanna Super Wash, where he practiced his love to maintain his automobile and exercise his social skills. Jesse then worked the rest of his career, until recently, for Mercy Healthcare in Clinton, Iowa in the Laundry department. He loved to work and enjoyed the people he worked with, working almost his entire life.

Jesse loved living in Savanna and serving his community. He served as a member of the City Council, was a member of the Savanna Chamber of Commerce and the Savanna Rotary Club. He had a big heart and enjoyed helping to deliver care packages during the holidays.

Jesse liked playing cards with the guys, his wife and family (as long as the Wheel of Fortune wasn’t on), listening to country and polka music, taking Linda out for dinner and dancing (in their younger years), and being a Grandpa and Great Grandpa. He also liked visiting relatives; most of his vacations were trips visiting family in Ohio and Pennsylvania in the summer months. His business took Jesse to industry conventions that were also mini vacations for him and Linda. He had a special love for dogs having fond memories of his childhood dog “Nippy” and loved to take our family dog “Tiffy” for car rides almost every night.

He will be dearly missed by his wife, Linda James of Savanna; his son, Tim (Karen) James of La Crosse, Wisconsin; his daughter, Kathie (Tim) Walden of Austin, Texas; four grandchildren, Evan and Alyssa James, Matthew and Kaylee Walden; one great grandchild, Luke; his brother, Clifton (Rita) James of Mt. Vernon, Iowa; and two sisters-in-law, Patricia James of Lanark and Ruth James of Savanna.

Jesse is preceded in death by his parents; three brothers and a sister-in-law, Jerry, Terry, and Harold (Katy) James and his dear Aunt Helen.