James Rexford Hoey, 91, of Le Mars, Iowa, finished his life's journey on Friday, October 27, 2023, in the home that he and his wife Donna had built 61 years ago.  His four children had the privilege of accompanying him through his final days.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 2, 2023, at the United Methodist Church in Le Mars.  Rev. Dr. Michel Lundula and Rev. Mike Janes will officiate.  Burial will follow at Memorial Cemetery in Le Mars.  Visitation with the family present will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 1, 2023, at Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars.  Visitation will resume from 9:30 a.m. until service time on Thursday at the church.  Arrangements are with the Rexwinkel Funeral Home in Le Mars, Iowa.  Expressions of sympathy can be extended to the family through www.rexwinkelfh.com.

"Jimmie" was born in Coffeyville, Kansas, on June 25, 1932, the middle son of three born to Rymer and Wanona (Bruner) Hoey.  For most of his childhood years, his family lived in the nearby town of Dearing, where he, his brothers, and friends found adventure along Onion Creek.  Jim walked the railroad or pumped a handcar to get to school in Coffeyville; he graduated from Coffeyville in 1950.  Still 17, Jim left Kansas (which he forever referred to as "God's country") for boot camp in San Diego.  He was commissioned first into the Navy and trained as a hospital corpsman.  He then served as a combat medic for the Marines during the Korean War.  Because of acts of valor, Jim was awarded a Bronze Star while serving in Korea.  In 1953 he was honorably discharged after three years of service.

Jim attended Coffeyville Junior College before coming to Westmar College in January of '55, introducing the Southern Kansas boy to single digit temperatures.  It was at Westmar where Jim met Donna Hess, who would become the love of his life.  Their love story began in their Romantic Literature class when the teacher asked Jim and Donna to share a book.  Jim graduated in 1956 and took his first history teaching position in Forest City, Iowa, while Donna taught in Rock Rapids, Iowa.  After one year of letter-writing and occasional long-distance calls, Jim and Donna married in the Salem EUB Church in Pipestone, MN, in June 1957.  He then joined Donna on the Rock Rapids teaching staff.  The two lived in Rock Rapids for three years, welcomed their first child there, and then in 1960 settled into Le Mars, Iowa, for the remainder of their 65 years together.

While in Le Mars, three more children were welcomed into the family.  Jim taught world cultures and American history; he also taught driver's education each summer (which put funds in the pot for family camping vacations.)  Mr. Hoey taught with a special group of men who shared service to their country and a dedication to teaching strong content; they often enjoyed adventures outside of school.  Jim retired from teaching in 1994, quoting MLK, Jr., on his way out the door: "Free at last, free at last.  Thank God Almighty I'm free at last!"

In his younger years, Jim enjoyed golf and tennis with friends.  Every summer Jim planned camping vacations for his family (sometimes adding friends or relatives) with destinations of historical significance.  In later years, he and Donna followed the entire Lewis and Clark expedition.  In retirement, Jim and Donna enjoyed more travel, often with the camaraderie of Phil and Jeanne Hoey.  Jim always found pleasure in yard work, flower-gardening, rock collecting, writing and receiving letters, and journaling every night.  He enjoyed fishing with friends and family, from the shoreline or in his jon boat.  His singular diversion game was that of pinochle, which he and Donna played with their "card club" for over four decades, and with family in their later years.  Last year during a family game of pinochle, Jim and his daughter achieved the ultimate hand of "a thousand aces."

Jim had a stellar mind for politics, world happenings, cultures and religions; he had deep interest in peoples near and far.  What Jim couldn't experience first-hand, he experienced through books, magazines, and travelogues.  He valued and nurtured conversation with anyone of any age or background.  Yet, most important to Jim was his family.  For them he was strong, kind, loving, adventurous, and present.  He modeled great responsibility, commitment, conviction, and a profound faith in Jesus.  He always put his family's needs first, living selflessly to the end.  He expressed deep gratitude for 91 years of knowing the love of family and Jesus Christ.

Celebrating Jim's place in heaven but slightly lost without him are his four children:  Danelle (Jim) Bolton, Akron, IA, Gail Brow, Carson, IA, Julie (Scott) Roy, Le Mars, IA, and Daniel Hoey, Tripp, SD; his 13 grandchildren: Haley Molzen (Caley Waysman), Ashley Molzen, Ryan (Darci) Molzen; Caitlin (Zac) Poynter, Tessa Brow, Keegan Brow; Michael Roy, Lara (Doug) Mollett, Austin (Mary) Roy; Simon, Izaak, Elijah, and Tehya Hoey; and ten great grandchildren:  Norah, Maeve, Thea, and Atlas Waysman; Kai and Tae Molzen; Evan and Elli Molzen; Esther and Coraline Roy.  Jim's surviving brother Phillip and his wife Jeanne Hoey will miss Jim's hours-long phone conversations that ended with "We'll see you sometime."

Jim was preceded in death by his dear wife Donna, his parents, his brother Rymer Hoey II, and many in-laws.