Memorial Services for James “Jim” Godwin, 59, of Jefferson will be 11:00 am Wednesday, October 7, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson.  Visitation will be after 10:00 am Tuesday, October 6, 2009 with the family present to greet friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.

James Franklin Godwin, 59, passed away on October 3, 2009 near Jefferson, IA. Jim was born August 16, 1950 at Greene County Hospital. He was the first son of Ed and Gloria (Fister) Godwin.

Jim attended school in Paton and Churdan most of his school years, but graduated from Jefferson High School in 1968. It was there that he met his wife, Jane Ann Eggers. They were married August 30, 1969 in Jefferson.

After high school Jim worked at Oscar Mayer in Perry. He also joined the National Guard and served six years. In 1983 Jim became the owner-operator of a ServiceMaster cleaning franchise. For the next 15 years, his yellow van was a familiar sight throughout Greene, Dallas, and Guthrie counties. Jim truly enjoyed working with homeowners, and took great pride in his work.

In the late nineties, Jim worked at Shadran Industrial Supply. As a salesman, Jim had the opportunity to meet many people and touch many lives. For the past decade Jim was employed by Power Lift. He was Production Manager of the wood division, Safety Director, and Wood Finisher on weight-lifting platforms. His job provided him the opportunity to meet many college coaches and players, which he enjoyed very much. He was very talented and meticulous in his work. It has been expressed that his skills will be greatly missed by the Power Lift team.

In 1972, Jim and Jane became the proud parents of Wade Cameron. Wade and his dad spent time hunting, fishing, and playing baseball, golf, and basketball together. Wade recalls that his dad would have spent all day throwing ground balls to him if Wade had wanted to.

Jim and Jane’s first daughter, Erika Noelle, was born in 1976. She remembers the special trip to Hawaii she got to take with her dad in 4th grade. Jim loved listening to Erika sing.

In 1980, Jim and Jane had their last child, Laura Ann. Laura most remembers riding in the yellow van, stopping at every Casey’s General Store for a cup of coffee. She also recalls numerous fishing trips and walking in the timber with her dad.

Jim and Jane lived in Grand Junction early in their marriage. Then they moved to Rippey, where they lived until 1979. They purchased an acreage in rural Jefferson that year. Jim spent countless hours working to make his house a comfortable home for his family. Jim and Jane had lived at this location 30 years and celebrated their 40th anniversary this year. Throughout his life, Jim had many interests. He enjoyed anything outdoors and drew much of his spirituality from nature. Some of his best memories were of fishing trips to Canada. Jim could many times be found sitting on the porch drinking coffee with his old dog Brody at his feet.

Sports were a constant theme in Jim’s life. He loved playing basketball whenever he had the chance. He also developed a love and talent for racquetball and played golf in his earlier years. One of the greatest joys he had was coaching young people. He coached both Little League and Sixth Grade basketball, and he could always be counted on to open the gym on Sundays for anyone who wanted to play ball.

One of Jim’s greatest successes in life was in being an amazing grandfather. He could do no wrong in the eyes of his six grandchildren. From feeding apples to horses to playing barefoot in the creek, trips to “Papa’s Farm” will not be the same without him.

Jim is survived by his wife Jane Godwin of Jefferson; son Wade of Correctionville, and his wife Sara; his daughter Erika Dudley of Jefferson and husband Doug, and daughter Laura Walker of Jefferson and husband Jim; Sisters Jessie Custer and Bob of Jefferson, Jacqui Mentzer and George of Jefferson, Joyce Davis and Eddie of Jamaica, Janetta Miller and Roger of Amarillo and Jeannie Liggett and Randy of Perry; Brothers Joey Godwin of Jefferson and Jeff Godwin and Jewell of Amarillo; mother-in-law Beverly Higgins of Jefferson; Grandchildren Bailey, Faith, and Luka Godwin, Avery and Addison Walker, and Lucy Dudley.

He was preceded in death by his parents Edward Godwin, and Gloria Thede, and one brother, Johnny.