James A. Sufficool

James A Sufficool , 90, of Bellevue died peacefully Wednesday, January 25, 2012 at Finley Hospital in Dubuque with those who loved him at his bedside. Private graveside services will be held at the Fontana Cemetery near Hazelton, Iowa at a later date. Jim was born October 10, 1921 in Forsyth, Montana, son of Glenn and Sarah (Parkins) Sufficool. While young, Jim and his family moved to southern Iowa. Jim graduated from Moravia, Iowa high school at the age of 16. During World War II, he served as a Lieutenant JG Naval Aviator. He flew a Hellcat off, and back onto (the hard part), the aircraft carrier USS Lexington. He received medals and citations for distinguishing himself by meritorious acts while participating in aerial flight operations in the South Pacific. After leaving the Navy Jim moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa and worked for Skelly Oil. He met and married Doris Williams June 7, 1947 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. They had one daughter, Paula. Jim commercial fished at Marquette,Iowa. He worked for Clinton Engines in Maquoketa as foreman in the tool and die shop. In 1957, the family moved to their house along the Mississippi River in Bellevue where Jim and Doris lived out their lives. In the 1960s Jim joined John Deere as part of the team that designed the machines that made the tractors. He worked there until he retired. Jims love for flying led him to renew his pilots license in 1973. He flew until 1992 taking joy rides, flying to Michigan, Illinois, and California to visit friends and family. He made several pleasure trips to Alaska. And usually took family members on a fall leaf tour of Wisconsin and Minnesota, which his mother-in-law was always able to work into the conversation when returning to her senior living center. He attended the National Air Races in Reno, Nevada and the Oshkosh, WI Air Show for many years. He logged over 1300 hours of flying time as a pilot. His love of the Mississippi River was unparallel. He fished by pole and trot lines, he hunted ducks and geese, he swam and played in the river, he hauled the kids up and down the river on water skis with his homemade flat boat and 20 horse Mercury motor. And he never got tired of watching the river flow by. Jim took from the river but also contributed. His built and hung wood duck houses in the yard providing nesting that produced hundreds of baby wood ducks. He would watch the ducks coming and going and be able to predict hatching times for the eggs. He put small microphones in the houses and listened to the mothers talk to the eggs and babies as they hatched. It was great fun to watch the babies jump out of the houses and see the mother round them up and take them to the river. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Doris, his parents, brothers Robert and Art, sister Mary, and 3 nephews. He is survived by his daughter Paula Sufficool, close family friend Steve Vehrs and his family, and many loving nephews and nieces.