James "Jim" William Manteufel

James "Jim" Manteufel, age 87, of Storm Lake, Iowa died on Monday, September 10, 2018 at his home in Storm Lake. Funeral services will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018 at 10:30 a.m. at St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Burial will be in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place on Friday, September 14, 2018 from 5:00-8:00 p.m. at the Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in STORM LAKE. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to UnityPoint Hospice, 112 W 5th St. Storm Lake, Iowa 50588. The Fratzke & Jensen Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements. James William Manteufel, the son of Henry and Ida (Wiebe) Manteufel, was born on December 13, 1930 in Storm Lake, Iowa. Jim grew up in the Hayes Township where his family had deep roots. His family was part of the original founding members of St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake. Jim was baptized, confirmed, and remained a life long member at the same church that his family helped to start many years ago. In his youth, Jim attended school at Hayes School where he later graduated from in 1949. In the fall of 1951 he was drafted but was able to obtain a deferral in order to complete harvesting crops. On January 4, 1952, Jim entered the Army to serve his country during the Korean Conflict. While serving in Germany, he was part of the 2nd Armored "Hell on Wheels" Division. During this time he played with traveling exhibition baseball and basketball teams. He mastered driving the tanks and became an expert shot. He was later honorably discharged on December 5, 1953. He then worked various jobs driving a fuel oil truck and working in a military surplus warehouse dismantling explosives. He then returned to his passion of farming by farming the other half of the family farm along with his brother Don. In 1959, while taking on a short-term sweetcorn picking job for a canning factory for extra income, he met his future wife over a broken bicycle chain. On August 14, 1960, Jim was united in marriage to Marguerite (Marge) Ann Bernard in Aurelia, Iowa. The couple was blessed with seven children: Cindy, Danny, Randy, Sandy, Andy, Connie, and Dennis. For most of his life, Jim was a 3rd generation farmer with his brother, Don. The Manteufel family farm was purchased in 1903 and has remained in the family for 115 years. Besides, being a lifelong member of St. John Lutheran Church in Storm Lake, Jim was also a member of the Alta VFW and a Farm Bureau member. Jim loved all sports. Many evenings were spent playing basketball with his kids in the barn or playing baseball games with the kids and neighbors on Sunday afternoons. He always had a special love for baseball. In his younger years, he played for the Storm Lake Whitecaps where he was a switch and power hitter; he could even throw the ball with either arm. He passed down his love for sports to his family and enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren play many football, baseball/softball and basketball games. Family was extremely important to Jim and he cherished the time he could spend with them. He will be forever remembered as a hard-working man who never retired and was still actively engaged in farming at the time of his passing. In his words, "I have eternity to rest so why should I retire?" Those left to cherish his memory include his wife, Marge of Storm Lake, Iowa; children: Cindy (Mike) Wiseman of Alta, Iowa; Danny (Kari) Manteufel of Thornton, Colorado; Randy Manteufel of Storm Lake, Iowa; Sandy (Doug) Watts of Thornton, Colorado; Andy (Shana) Manteufel of Humboldt, Iowa; Connie (Chuck) Haselhoff of Ames, Iowa; Dennis (Kris) Manteufel of Alta, Iowa; brother, Harold Dean (DeAnna) Manteufel of Gladstone, Missouri; grandchildren: Ashley, Tacia, Jaedyn, Cameron (Jordan), Sierra, Austin; Tosha (Nick), Zack (Missy), Gerri (Michael); Cassidy (DeeDee), Chase (Lyndsey); Alex, Kaitlyn; 11 great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Sondra Manteufel of Hawkins, Texas; brother-in-law, Wes Bernard of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; nieces and nephews: Dorothea, Nathan, Dan, Jeff, Linda, Laurie, Mike and Stacey (Sean); extended family and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; grandson, Aaron James Daniel Manteufel; and brothers: Allen, Don, and Wayne Manteufel. Jim’s family would like to give a special thank you to UnityPoint Hospice and their nurses.

James "Jim" William Manteufel

December 13, 1930 - September 10, 2018