James Van Ginkel, of Atlantic, Iowa, longtime Atlantic attorney passed away April 3, 2016 at the Heritage House in Atlantic.

James was born February 27, 1923, in Prairie City, Iowa. He was the youngest and last survivor of eight children born to John Christian and Caroline Gertrude (Van Nimwegen) Van Ginkel.

He graduated from Monroe, Iowa, high school in 1941. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps Aviation Cadet program in 1942 and completed flight training as a pilot receiving his wings and a commission as Second Lieutenant on February 8, 1944. He was assigned as a flight instructor at Waco, TX Army Airfield for a short time. He was then assigned as co-pilot to a B-24 Liberator Bomber Crew, and after combat training, flew to England and joined the 8th Air-force at Attlebridge, England. After five bombing missions the pilot was killed and he took over as pilot of the crew for the remaining total of thirty-five bombing missions to Germany.

After the military service he attended the University of Iowa and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce in 1948 and a Juris Doctor Degree from Drake University in 1953.

James was employed from July 1953 for 3 1/2 years as a special agent with Federal Bureau of Investigation serving in Cincinnati and Columbus, Ohio, and New York City.

He practiced law in Atlantic since 1956, and in 2006, was awarded a distinguished service award by the city of Atlantic and the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce for serving as the Atlantic City Attorney for 40 years.

In June 1953, he married Marvel Crumpacker and to this union three children were born: J.C. Van Ginkel of Atlantic, IA, Jane Van Ginkel (husband, Charles Carradine) of Austin, TX and Doctor John C. Van Ginkel of Cheyenne, WY.

He was a sports fan and seldom missed an activity in which his children or grandchildren participated.

Preceding James in death was his wife, Marvel on July 10, 2007. He is survived by his three children, and four grandchildren, James (Elizabeth) Van Ginkel, John Van Ginkel, Christine Carradine and Catherine Carradine.


Obituary courtesy of Marthann Kohl-Fuhs.