James LeRoy Tucker

James LeRoy Tucker, 70, of Bronson passed away on the first day of summer, Saturday, June 21, 2014, at a Sioux City hospital, with his loving family close to his side. Services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday at Third Presbyterian Church in Sioux City, with the Rev. Cathie Bishop officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, with military rites. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at Meyer Brothers Morningside Chapel in Sioux City. James was born on Jan. 20, 1944, in Sioux City and was raised by his parents, John "Jack" LeRoy and Lillie Mable Tucker (Olson) and his sisters, Lola Anderson and LaVonne "Toots" Pittman. He graduated from Sioux City Central High School in 1962 and attended the University of South Dakota before graduating from Wayne State University with a bachelor of arts degree in 1967. After his graduation, he relocated to Correctionville, Iowa, and was an industrial arts teacher at Eastwood Community School District. A formative experience in his life was his military service during the Vietnam War. While working as a teacher in Correctionville, Jim was drafted to serve into the U.S. Army. He completed basic training at Ft. Lewis, Wash., and completed advanced training in Arizona and Indiana before serving at Bien Hoa from 1969 to 1970. He returned to Iowa on Feb. 11, 1970, one year to the day before the birth of his first son. He was a member of the U.S. Army Reserve until his honorable discharge in 1974 and received the Vietnam Service Medal and Vietnam Campaign Medal in recognition of his military service. Jim was a member of the American Legion Post 477 in Hinton, Iowa, for the past 31 years. Upon his return to Iowa, he taught at Marcus (Iowa) High School. In 1973, Jim joined All Power Inc, in Sioux City, where he represented the company in purchasing and sales for 41 years until the time of his passing. During that time, he established a wide network of business colleagues and friends throughout the U.S. The grandson of a river ferryman and blacksmith and the son of a painter, Jim was raised with an appreciation for the beauty of the outdoors. One of his first jobs was seasonal work at Stone State Park, which cultivated his lifelong love of nature. He was an outdoorsman, from hunting upland game in the hills around Correctionville and Oto, Iowa, to fishing on the lakes and rivers of Iowa, Minnesota, South Dakota and Canada. Jim's family and friends knew him as a talented angler, dancer and card player. He was fond of traveling with friends, gardening, bird watching and a round of golf. Jim had an innate curiosity and gift for observation of the natural world that surrounds us, particularly for the quiet beauty found in the rolling hills along the Missouri River in Iowa and Nebraska. For nearly 30 years, Jim and Elaine shared their second home along the Missouri River near Wynot, Neb., with family and friends. When they were up to the river, they enjoyed campfires, spring mushroom hunts, the Green Diamond, horse rides, fishing, weekend cookouts and simply viewing a peaceful sunset over the river. Like his father and his sons, Jim was a practical joker with a sharp wit and sense of humor who loved a good laugh almost as much as he loved a great sandwich. Jim enjoyed spending time with his many friends and was a member of the Sioux City Elks Lodge 112. He particularly enjoyed holiday celebrations and the opportunity to gather family and friends around the table to share food, drink and laughter. James married Mary Tucker (Thomsen) in 1968 and they had two children, Matthew James and Bradley John Tucker. In 1984, James married Elaine Shaputis (Riffey) in Las Vegas, Nev. and together they proudly raised children, Matthew and Bradley Tucker, Paul Shaputis and Angela Stabe (Shaputis). James is survived by his loving wife of 29 years, Elaine; his son, Professor Matthew Tucker and partner, Lisa Stone of St. Paul, Minn.; his son, Bradley Tucker and wife, Dr. Lindsay Tucker DVM of Winona, Minn.; his stepson, Paul Shaputis and wife, Joan of Sioux City;, his stepdaughter Angela Stabe and husband, Justin of Akron, Iowa; his sister, Lola (Eugene) Anderson of Sioux City; his sister, LaVonne Pittman of Sioux City; and his many nieces, nephews and cousins located around Siouxland and beyond. His memory will be cherished by the grandchildren who brought him great joy and happiness, Lilly (13), Benjamin (11), Katelyn (9), Lilian (6) and Jack (1). James was preceded in death by his parents; and his brother-in-law, John Pittman. Pallbearers include Ron Andersen, Andrew Anderson, John Becker, Anthony Cortilet, Kristopher Kinyon, and Dr. Patrick "Pete" Rydell. Honorary pallbearers include Eugene Anderson Sr., Eugene Anderson Jr., Joe Rieger, Wayne Stark and Randy Stratman. The family would like to thank the health care providers who assisted James and his family over the last few years, in particular the talented and compassionate cardiology doctors and nurses at the Mayo Clinic and Hospital in Rochester, Minn., and his physicians in Sioux City, Dr. Jon Peacock and Dr. Heidi Roge.