Gerald M. (Jim) Kilburg

Gerald M. “Jim” Kilburg, age 76, of Miles, Iowa died Thursday, February 14, 2008 at the Jackson County Regional Medical Center, Maquoketa, Iowa. A Funeral Mass will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, February 19, 2008 in St. Joseph Catholic Church, Preston, Iowa with Father Don Plamondon as Celebrant. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery, Preston, with Full Military rites accorded by American Legion Post #602. Friends may call from 3-7:00 p.m. Monday, February 18, 2008 at the Miller-Law-Jones Funeral Home, Preston, and one hour prior to the Funeral Mass at the Church. A memorial fund has been established in Jim’s memory.

Jim was born November 8, 1931 in rural Bellevue, Iowa the son of Frank and Frances (Medinger) Kilburg. He attended Washington Township #3 Country School, rural Bellevue. Jim was a veteran of the Korean War and served his country in the Air Force for 4 years. On November 20, 1956 Jim married Dorothy Banowetz at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Sugar Creek.
Jim farmed most of his life near Bellevue. He retired in 1978 after being severely burned in a fire at the family farm. Jim never gave up his love of the farm as he still helped during harvest. He was a great fan of John Wayne and the Chicago Cubs. Jim loved tractors. He also dearly loved combining, the outdoors, and traveling by car.
Jim was baptized and a member of Sacred Heart Parish, Green Island, until it closed and since then, has been a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Preston. He was a 50 year member of the Bellevue Knights of Columbus, a 55 year member of the Preston American Legion and a lifetime member of the Jackson County Farm Bureau.
Survivors include his wife, Dorothy of Miles; three sons, Greg (Janet) Kilburg, Ron (Lori) Kilburg, all of Bellevue and Roger (Lorie) Kilburg of Miles; two daughters, Diane Miller of Clinton and Della (Ray) Ernst of Bellevue; thirteen grandchildren; two foreign exchange granddaughters, Janin and Isabell, both from Germany. Jim is also survived by his four sisters and three brothers; Marcy Sullivan of Glenview, Illinois, Carol Roling of Bellevue, Marvin (Gloria) Kilburg of Cypress, California, Alice Cassaday Davis of Bellevue; Alan (DiAnne) Kilburg of Bellevue, Mary Jane Dunn of Santa Cruz, California and David (Betty) Kilburg of Bellevue. Jim is preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Edward.