James Demuth-UPDATED

James Leonard Demuth, 74 of Clarion passed away Thursday, November 12, 2020 at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.

A Memorial Mass for James Demuth will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 10:30 AM at St. John’s Catholic Church, 608 2nd Avenue Northeast in Clarion, with Father Jerry Blake officiating. Burial will be held at Evergreen Cemetery in Clarion.

Public visitation has been cancelled at this time.

Those in attendance are required to wear a face mask and practice social distancing.

James Leonard Demuth was born on August 15, 1946 in Waterloo, Iowa, the eldest child of Paul and Cleone Demuth of Jesup, Iowa. He was raised on a farm in Littleton, Iowa, and graduated from Don Bosco High school with the class of 1964. Following high school, Jim attended Loras College and ISU. He joined the United States Air Force in the summer of 1966 and served for eight years, which included two tours in Thailand and two in England.

Jim returned to Iowa and began raising hogs in 1974. Over the years he also worked for the Holmes Elevator, North Central Coop, Clarion Iowa and Coach America. He was a 4-H Leader for the Dayton Lake Club in the 1980s and served on the Wright County Pork Producers during the same years.

On December 29, 1973 Jim was united in marriage with Meriel Southgate in Worcestershire England and she moved to Iowa in November of 1974 with a newborn son. After living in Independence and Maynard, Iowa, the young family moved to Goldfield in 1980 and then to Clarion in 1984. A daughter was born in 1976 and a second son in 1980.

James worked hard his entire life and was a private individual who did not seek out recognition for his efforts. His greatest joy was his family and in his final hours talked lovingly of his wife and children and their families, he met his death with dignity and bravery and may his soul Rest In Peace.

Jim is survived by his wife Meriel; sons Ben (Lori) Demuth and their children Reece and Brooke of Eagle Grove, Robert “Harv” (Jodi) Demuth and their children Bryce and Marryn of Osage; and daughter Katie (Bill) Herzog of Lakeside, Iowa and her children Nick (Sam), Natalie, and Ethan Baack. Also surviving are sisters Barb Sharp, Marilyn (Lynn) Schulte, Ruth Demuth, Theresa (Mike) Myers, Sue Tarasi, and Pat (Randy) Glassell; brothers, Fritz (Marge) Demuth, Ron (Sylvia) Demuth; sister-in-law Debbie Demuth; brother-in-law Ed Irlbeck and many nieces, nephews, and other family members.

He is preceded in death by his parents Paul and Cleone Demuth, in-laws Eric and Ruth Southgate, brothers Tony and David Demuth, sister Rose Irlbeck, and brother-in-law Frank Tarasi.