James L. "Jim" Dawdy

James L. "Jim" Dawdy, 68, of Glendale, Ariz., formerly of Sioux City, passed away Monday, Nov. 24, 2008, at his residence.

Services will be 1 p.m. Monday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with Pastor Michelle Williamson officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation with the family present will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, and a prayer service at 7 p.m., at the funeral home.

Jim was born Dec. 16, 1939, in Smithland, Iowa, to Harvey and Fannie (Riley) Dawdy. He graduated valedictorian from Otto Public School System with the class of 1958.

Jim married Jean Wilshire in 1958; years later, the couple divorced. He worked as an assistant manager at Walgreens before serving as a salesman for numerous companies around Siouxland. Jim began his career with the city of Sioux City in 1974, working his way up to supervisor of the Parks and Recreation Department before his retirement in 2002. He married Janet M. Hetrick on June 18, 1988, in Walthill, Neb.

Jim loved to dance, paint, fish, hunt and take walks in parks that he helped design. He was a creative woodworker, enjoyed bowling and was an avid sports fan, cheering on the Chicago Bulls, the Chicago Cubs, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Minnesota Vikings. He was a lifetime member of the Moose Lodge of Siouxland 2411 and a past member of the Eagles Club.

Survivors include his wife, Janet Dawdy of Glendale; children, James "Jim" Dawdy and fiancee, Alice Jackson of Sioux City, Robin Wanamaker and her husband, Ron of Sioux City, Jeff Dawdy and his significant other, Dee Cameron of Sergeant Bluff, Larry Dawdy and his wife, Mary of Sioux City, Darrin Dawdy of Coralville, Iowa, Tony Dawdy and his wife, Tonya of Sioux City, Patrick Shafer and his wife, Dawn of Sioux City, Karie Rodie and her significant other, Nino of Glendale, and Jennifer Fiery and her husband, Kevin of Martinsburg, W.Va.; brothers, Dick Dawdy and his wife, Vickie, and Chuck Dawdy and his wife, Bev, all of Sioux City; a sister, Jeanette Biederman of South Sioux City; numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Clayton and Larry.