James M. "Jim" Duggan

Dr. James Michael Duggan D.O., 81, died Jan. 13, 2020, at his home in Sioux City, Iowa, where he leaves a devotion to his wife, a legacy to the mental health profession, and a passion for golf, fly fishing, and the perfectly cooked meal.

Jim was born Jan. 20, 1938, in Des Moines, to Francis and Blanche Duggan. He was the youngest of four children and his father died from pneumonia when Jim was one year old. While his mother worked to support the family, Jim was raised by his sisters, Margaret and Mary, and his brother, Jack. He also was mentored by the fathers of his buddies in West Des Moines, where boys rode bikes, played sandlot baseball, and caught bullheads long before the rise of the suburbs. He graduated from Valley High School in 1956.

He graduated from Drake University with a biology degree in 1961. He worked for several years at a veterinary medicine laboratory before enrolling at the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Des Moines, where he graduated in 1967. After completing an internship at Saginaw Osteopathic Hospital in 1968, he practiced general medicine in Whitehall, Michigan.

In 1972, he was accepted to the psychiatric residency program at the Mental Health Institute (MHI) in Cherokee, Iowa, which led to a career position at the hospital. In 1977, he obtained certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the next year, he supervised reform of the state-operated George W. Jackson Mental Health Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas. He moved back to Cherokee in 1980 and resumed treatment of patients through a community outreach program at the MHI. In 1984, he moved to Sioux City, where he went into private practice. He retired in 2003 but continued working part-time at area hospitals until 2010.

He was Distinguished Life Fellow with the American Psychiatric Association and served as president of the Iowa Psychiatric Society and the Woodbury County Medical Society. He advocated for greater investment in psychiatric care, testifying before governmental boards and state agencies. In a career spanning 42 years, he provided medical care and counseling to thousands of people suffering from mental and physical illness.

Jim married Kathleen Ann Crowley on Dec. 26, 1964, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Des Moines. The couple had four children, ten grandchildren, two neurotic German shepherds, and memories stretching from Huntington Beach, California, to Dublin, Ireland. Kathy, a registered nurse, was Jim’s best friend and confidant, supporter and caregiver. The couple celebrated their 55^th wedding anniversary the day after Christmas.

Jim treated the many maladies of his children and always supported them in their endeavors. He taught them to pray, work hard, be considerate of others, and always say “thank you.” He enjoyed spoiling his grandchildren. His kids knew never to call between 10 and 10:30 p.m. while the local news was on, but they unfailingly heard “Love you and God bless you,” at the end of every phone conversation.

Jim had many passions, which included learning to fly, archery deer hunting, reading history, studying Spanish, playing classical guitar, and cheering the Iowa Hawkeyes. He loved live jazz and played drums in assorted jazz combos across Des Moines to help pay for medical school. He also loved to play 18 holes with his buddies and had a life-long passion for fishing. He took a special interest in fly fishing and tying in retirement and enjoyed his friends at the Siouxland Fly Fishing Club.

Without question, Jim’s most enduring enthusiasm was for the gastronomical arts. He savored his wife’s cooking but frequently gave her the night off to dine at one of their favorite restaurants across Iowa and beyond.

He was a member of Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and the Knights of Columbus. He was a man of faith who counted several priests and religious among his friends. With the steadfast support of his wife, Jim fought laryngeal cancer for four years with courage, optimism, and uncommon strength. The disease took his voice, but never his spirit.

He is survived by his wife and his children, James (Carla) Duggan II; Joseph (Renee) Duggan; Paula (Brian) Massey; and Patricia (Brian) Korzeniewski; his grandchildren Michael and Brittany Duggan; Sophia, Lillian, and Adelaide Duggan; Matthew, Joseph, and Ella Massey; and Alexander and Aidan Korzeniewski; nephews and nieces.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings.

Services will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 16, 2020 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 3012 Jackson St. Private family burial at Calvary Cemetery. Visitation 4-6 p.m. and Vigil service at 6:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 15, 2020 at Blessed Sacrament Church.

Pallbearers will be his nephew Matthew Bonygne; his grandsons, Mick, Matthew, and Joe; and his sons-in-law, Brian Massey and Brian Korzeniewski.

In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Friendship House at the Siouxland Mental Health Center, 1101 Court Street, Sioux City, 51105 or siouxlandmentalhealth.com; or the Warming Shelter for homeless adults and children, 916 Nebraska St., Sioux City, 51105 or thewarmingshelter.com.