James Dearborn

James Francis Dearborn, age 75 of Savanna, Illinois, died Friday, April 24, 2009 at his home. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 28, 2009 at the Law-Jones Funeral Home, Savanna with Reverend Michael Wey of the First Presbyterian Church, Savanna officiating. Military rites will be provided by the Savanna V.F.W. Post #2223, Savanna. Cremation rites will be accorded following the services. Visitation will be held from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, April 28, 2009, prior to the service at the funeral home. Interment of his cremated remains will take place in the Elmwood Cemetery, DeWitt, Iowa at a later date. A memorial fund has been established in James’s memory.

James was born on February 7, 1934, the son of Frank Arnold and Blanche Marie (McCallister) Dearborn in Iowa City, Iowa. He attended high school in DeWitt and after graduation he served his country in the United States Navy. He served from 1952 – 1955, as a machinist stationed aboard the U.S.S. Laertes. He then served in the U.S. Naval Reserves until 1966. He was first married to Beverly Huber in 1957 in DeWitt, Iowa and they were divorced in 1966. He later married Linda M. Bock on June 30, 1990 in Dixon, Illinois. Linda died on July 16, 2008.

James was employed as a machinist for Caterpillar in Mount Joy, Iowa and W.A. Whitney in Rockford, Illinois. He also owned and operated Dearborn Salvage in DeWitt, Iowa for three years. After he moved to Savanna, he operated Jim’s Small Engine Repair out of his home in Savanna for the past ten years. He enjoyed fishing, crosswords and tinkering in the garage. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.

James will be dearly missed by two daughters, Debbie (Pat) Connor of Savanna and Patti (Sam) Jackson Jr. of Savanna; three sons, Terry Dearborn of Lanark, Illinois, LaVern Dearborn of Newton, Iowa, and Kent Dearborn of Polo, Illinois; two step-sons, Jim (Angela) Wakefield of Savanna, and John Wakefield of Buffalo, Missouri; twelve grandchildren; seven great grandchildren; one brother, Rich Dearborn of Davenport, Iowa; and three sisters, Milly Fisher of DeWitt, Barb Pearl of Orange Grove, Texas, and Judy (Richard) Marburger of Green Island, Iowa.

James is preceded in death by his parents, and wife, Linda.