James Melvin Dunnam

HAWARDEN, IOWA ~ James M. Dunnam, 90, of rural Hawarden, passed away on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

 Memorial Service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, December 28, 2024, at the Friendship Assembly of God Church in Hawarden with Pastor Jesse Hailey of the Elk Point Baptist Church officiating. Burial of the cremated remains with Military Rites will be in the spring at Pleasant Valley Cemetery rural Alcester, South Dakota. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden is assisting the family. Condolences may be sent to www.porterfuneralhomes.com. 

 James Melvin Dunnam was born in Vinegar Bend, Alabama on October 2nd, 1934. He told us that the town was named that because a train load of vinegar had burst on a curve of the track. He was the oldest of six children. The family moved to Lucedale, Mississippi where he excelled in sports, especially basketball and baseball. 

 After graduating from high school in 1952, he enlisted in the US Air Force and studied aircraft mechanics. While stationed in Sioux City he met Patricia Lindgren on a blind date. They fell in love and were married in June of 1954. The next 20 plus years found them raising a family of five and moving at the will of the US Air Force. One of the hardest separations due to deployment was Vietnam which was one year. 

 In 1973, James was offered the Chief Master Sgt rank, but that would have meant he needed to reenlist for three more years. Having already committed to buying the family farm in South Dakota, he declined the promotion. 

 Farm life was good for the family. Dad enjoyed raising hogs, farming, gardening, woodworking and crafts with Pat and the Farmers Market. In earlier years he was a Boy Scout leader and a swimming instructor. 

 Jim was a devoted father who always wanted the best for his family. He was deeply devoted to family and church. Jim was a commander in the Alcester VFW and maintained the roads in Virginia Township for many years. 

 Jim loved to tell jokes. Some of them were a little risqué. That was a big part of him socializing with people who came to visit. He always had a pot of hazelnut coffee ready to share. 

 James is survived by four siblings, his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren who will miss his humor. The great grandchildren will miss the $1.00 bills they received when they came to visit him.

 Thank you all for coming today to honor and remember our Dad. Our hearts are full of love.

Precious Lord, take my hand, Lead me on, help me stand.

I am tired, I am weak, I am worn;

Thru the storm, through the night,

Lead me on to the light,

Take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.

When my way grows drear, Precious Lord, linger near;

When my life is almost gone,

Hear my cry, hear my call,

Hold my hand lest I fall;

Take my hand, Precious Lord, lead me home.