James Leo "Jim" Spellman, Sr. of Des Moines passed away peacefully at his home on January 12, 2014. Jim was born April 3, 1933 to Corrine Spellman and Martin Spellman in Woodward, Iowa.
From a young age, Jim always excelled academically. He attended Creighton University where he earned both his undergraduate degree and law school degree, graduating at the top of his class. After law school, he began his service as a Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps and was stationed at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. While working at the Pentagon, he earned a Masters of Law (L.L.M.) degree from Georgetown University.
After an honorable discharge he returned to central Iowa and in 1962 married Marjorie "Ruth" Welsh whom he had met as a sophomore at Creighton. For over fifty years Jim was a highly regarded and respected attorney in private practice in the Des Moines area. He was a member of the Polk County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Jim was a very active member of St. Augustin Parish, the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America. Beginning in 1978 he was the Diocesan Chairman of the Scouting Committee and organized the annual Catholic Scouting Religious Medal ceremony at St. Ambrose Cathedral.
Extremely proud of his Irish heritage, Jim enjoyed travelling with Ruth to the country of Ireland. He also enjoyed several trips with his family to other European countries.
Jim will be greatly missed by his children, Mary (Matt) Walsh of Urbandale, Jamie (Julie) Spellman of Windsor Heights, Anne (Erik) Lundberg of Wilmette, Illinois, Tricia Spellman of Evanston, Illinois and Sarah Spellman of Des Moines. He was a wonderful grandfather to his grandchildren, Ben, J.D, Shannon and Taylor. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald Spellman of Granger and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Spellman; parents, Martin and Corrine; brothers, Edward, George, Clem and Frank; and sisters, Anne and Mary.
From a young age, Jim always excelled academically. He attended Creighton University where he earned both his undergraduate degree and law school degree, graduating at the top of his class. After law school, he began his service as a Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps and was stationed at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. While working at the Pentagon, he earned a Masters of Law (L.L.M.) degree from Georgetown University.
After an honorable discharge he returned to central Iowa and in 1962 married Marjorie "Ruth" Welsh whom he had met as a sophomore at Creighton. For over fifty years Jim was a highly regarded and respected attorney in private practice in the Des Moines area. He was a member of the Polk County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Jim was a very active member of St. Augustin Parish, the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America. Beginning in 1978 he was the Diocesan Chairman of the Scouting Committee and organized the annual Catholic Scouting Religious Medal ceremony at St. Ambrose Cathedral.
Extremely proud of his Irish heritage, Jim enjoyed travelling with Ruth to the country of Ireland. He also enjoyed several trips with his family to other European countries.
Jim will be greatly missed by his children, Mary (Matt) Walsh of Urbandale, Jamie (Julie) Spellman of Windsor Heights, Anne (Erik) Lundberg of Wilmette, Illinois, Tricia Spellman of Evanston, Illinois and Sarah Spellman of Des Moines. He was a wonderful grandfather to his grandchildren, Ben, J.D, Shannon and Taylor. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald Spellman of Granger and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Spellman; parents, Martin and Corrine; brothers, Edward, George, Clem and Frank; and sisters, Anne and Mary.
James Leo "Jim" Spellman, Sr. of Des Moines passed away peacefully at his home on January 12, 2014. Jim was born April 3, 1933 to Corrine Spellman and Martin Spellman in Woodward, Iowa.
From a young age, Jim always excelled academically. He attended Creighton University where he earned both his undergraduate degree and law school degree, graduating at the top of his class. After law school, he began his service as a Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps and was stationed at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. While working at the Pentagon, he earned a Masters of Law (L.L.M.) degree from Georgetown University.
After an honorable discharge he returned to central Iowa and in 1962 married Marjorie "Ruth" Welsh whom he had met as a sophomore at Creighton. For over fifty years Jim was a highly regarded and respected attorney in private practice in the Des Moines area. He was a member of the Polk County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Jim was a very active member of St. Augustin Parish, the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America. Beginning in 1978 he was the Diocesan Chairman of the Scouting Committee and organized the annual Catholic Scouting Religious Medal ceremony at St. Ambrose Cathedral.
Extremely proud of his Irish heritage, Jim enjoyed travelling with Ruth to the country of Ireland. He also enjoyed several trips with his family to other European countries.
Jim will be greatly missed by his children, Mary (Matt) Walsh of Urbandale, Jamie (Julie) Spellman of Windsor Heights, Anne (Erik) Lundberg of Wilmette, Illinois, Tricia Spellman of Evanston, Illinois and Sarah Spellman of Des Moines. He was a wonderful grandfather to his grandchildren, Ben, J.D, Shannon and Taylor. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald Spellman of Granger and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Spellman; parents, Martin and Corrine; brothers, Edward, George, Clem and Frank; and sisters, Anne and Mary.
From a young age, Jim always excelled academically. He attended Creighton University where he earned both his undergraduate degree and law school degree, graduating at the top of his class. After law school, he began his service as a Captain in the Army Judge Advocate General's (JAG) Corps and was stationed at the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia. While working at the Pentagon, he earned a Masters of Law (L.L.M.) degree from Georgetown University.
After an honorable discharge he returned to central Iowa and in 1962 married Marjorie "Ruth" Welsh whom he had met as a sophomore at Creighton. For over fifty years Jim was a highly regarded and respected attorney in private practice in the Des Moines area. He was a member of the Polk County Bar Association, Iowa State Bar Association and the American Bar Association.
Jim was a very active member of St. Augustin Parish, the Knights of Columbus and the Boy Scouts of America. Beginning in 1978 he was the Diocesan Chairman of the Scouting Committee and organized the annual Catholic Scouting Religious Medal ceremony at St. Ambrose Cathedral.
Extremely proud of his Irish heritage, Jim enjoyed travelling with Ruth to the country of Ireland. He also enjoyed several trips with his family to other European countries.
Jim will be greatly missed by his children, Mary (Matt) Walsh of Urbandale, Jamie (Julie) Spellman of Windsor Heights, Anne (Erik) Lundberg of Wilmette, Illinois, Tricia Spellman of Evanston, Illinois and Sarah Spellman of Des Moines. He was a wonderful grandfather to his grandchildren, Ben, J.D, Shannon and Taylor. He is also survived by his brother, Gerald Spellman of Granger and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Spellman; parents, Martin and Corrine; brothers, Edward, George, Clem and Frank; and sisters, Anne and Mary.
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