James Delbert Fox

James "Jim" D. Fox was an amazing man who lived a full and amazing life. He went home to be with his Lord and Savior in the early morning hours of April 19, 2023, after having enjoyed a special time with his family before passing. He was 92.

Jim was born October 10, 1930, in Forest City, Iowa, son of James I. Fox, and Hope (Walrath) Fox. He grew up in Forest City where he was active in athletics. He graduated from high school with an athletic scholarship to Iowa State Teachers College (UNI) in 1948. Before playing football for the Panthers Jim enlisted in the Air Force. There his musical talents were put to use playing tuba in the Air Force Band throughout bases around the country and in Panama. While in the USAF, Jim volunteered to learn how to play the string bass. He continued to play it in bands around town for several years. His string bass was always on display at home.

Four years later, after being honorably discharged, Jim was ready to play quarterback, however a knee injury took him out of action during his first year. Fortunately, though, this led to an opportunity to meet his future wife Nancy Allbee, born and raised in Cedar Falls and also attending college at the same time as Jim. After getting Nancy's parent's approval (it wasn't hard – they immediately loved Jim!) they were married on July 3, 1953.

With the help of his athletic scholarship and GI Bill, Jim graduated in 1956 and went to work at his father-in-law's (Verle Allbee) printing business. Within a few years Verle retired and Jim bought the business and owned and operated it until he sold it in 1995.

Jim caught the entrepreneurial spirit in those early days working for Verle and through the years bought, started, or expanded several businesses. He bought Inland Lithographic in the late 1970's and grew it over the years to be a regional pre-press company until he sold it at his retirement in 2002.

Because of his involvement in the community, he saw an opportunity to use the newly built UNI-Dome as a concert venue. In partnership with KWWL, Fox Promotions was born and for the next several years the Cedar Valley played host to the likes of the Rolling Stones, Fleetwood Mac, Aerosmith, REO Speedwagon, Alice Cooper, Kiss, Heart, Bob Seager, The Beach Boys, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker and many more including Styx and Ted Nugent. Even KC and the Sunshine band.

These were the days before Ticketmaster, and being in the printing business, Jim saw an opportunity to print and distribute tickets. His son Joe would regularly go on ticket/money runs around Northeast Iowa to pick up money and gauge how sales were going. Naturally, this led to Jim buying a record shop (head shop!) in town, remember when those were popular? Not long after that, as the times changed, Jim stayed ahead of the curve and converted the record shop into a video store and moved it to the crossroads area and called it Video at the Crossings.

By the mid 80's these fun and successful endeavors had run their course but not before many wonderful memories were made, especially for his son Joe who was at the perfect age to be involved; in his late teens and early twenties, he and his friends oversaw front stage security.

You would think with all these businesses there would be little time for anything else. Well, Jim accumulated a vast list of activities he was passionate about and successful at.

Politics

He worked on 5 re-election campaigns for U.S. Congressman H.R. Gross – 3 as his Campaign Chairman. He was Campaign Chairman for Bob Case's Primary Election to Congress. He was Finance Chairman for 3rd District Congressman Cooper Evans.

Community Service

President of the Waterloo Jaycees, President Broadway Theatre League of Northeast Iowa, Exalted Ruler Waterloo Elks, President of Sunnyside Country Club for 3 terms during the club's expansion and move to its current location – converting farmland to the beautiful, lush golf course it is today. Jim was on the Waterloo Recreation Commission and the Waterloo Airport Commission. He was an original member of the Waterloo Ambassadors. He was also an original board member of W.I.D.A. and served as president for 2 years.

Church

Jim and Nancy were members at Westminster Church for 52 years. Jim served as a Deacon, and Elder. He most enjoyed serving as Head Usher, which he did for many years. Under Jim, the church initiated the need for all ushers to be trained in CPR. A highlight for him and those attending was the annual thank you dinner he and Nancy hosted at their home.

Serving

There are things Jim did in his community to help others that we won't know until we join him in the company of Jesus. We do know that he was a very generous man financially helping many in need or giving others the break or lead they needed to help them be successful. Often, he would hire someone to work for him as a way to help. He would also frequently go the extra mile to help an employee who needed help.

Recreation and Social

If there's one thing Jim knew to do, it was how to have fun. Jim enjoyed cross-country motorcycle trips in his youth until his best buddy was killed in an accident. Then he quit riding and made motorcycles off-limits to his children – a rule still in force today!

As a young father he dabbled for a few years in model gas propelled airplanes. Flying model airplanes paled in comparison though to the opportunity he and his best friend Jim Sulentic had when they were able to fly supersonic in a T-38 trainer jet!

Jim was a lifelong enthusiastic golfer. Enthusiastic because he was good (usually a 4-7 handicap), and because he usually won the "friendly" bets he and his friends would wager. He had 5 holes in one, the first one coming at the Waterloo Open Golf Tournament – the year he was the chairman of the tournament! For decades he was part of a men's group at Sunnyside called the Foxes and they played every Saturday and Thursday, and eventually added a late Tuesday afternoon time. Many golf "war" stories could be told by this group.

Iowa Hawkeye Football

You would be hard pressed to find a bigger, more passionate Hawkeye football fan (and critic) than Jim Fox. For almost 50 years he was a regular season ticket holder and always had or could get enough tickets to accommodate family, friends or business clients. Part of his tradition was to meet friends at the "Triangle" to park, enjoy a beverage or 2, and grill his famous ¼" steak sandwiches! It was easy to down 3 or 4 of these mouthwatering sandwiches. (You know who you are!) No one did it better!

Jim was also a fisherman. At one time for a few years, he had a houseboat with his other best friend Jack Swinehart at Lake City MN where they enjoyed trolling for Northern Pike. His favorite fishing experience though was finding secret spots to fish for Rainbow Trout. We know they were somewhere around Strawberry Point but the exact location only he and the Lord know.

Jim also enjoyed hunting, mostly pheasants and ducks. He especially enjoyed going to Jack's Powder Horn out by Fredricka and hunting, or shooting targets, or just getting away to enjoy being outdoors.

In 1980 Jim and Nancy became part timers in Florida enjoying winters there for twenty years. There Jim played golf as much as he could with his friends from the Sulentic clan and also the Warrens. Naturally, they made many new friends and thoroughly enjoyed their time there.

We honestly believe the most fun Jim had was hosting parties and events at his home on Martin Road. They would regularly invite 50-60 of their closest friends over for cocktails and a special meal Nancy created. Of course, not every party was that large, more often they enjoyed having a few couples over to enjoy a good meal and talk about important topics of the day – sometimes the conversations got a little heated!

Jim was part of a morning coffee group that spanned well over 50 years. Here they discussed and debated and solved all of the current issues of the day – including how the Hawks could have done just a little better.

Friends

Jim was blessed with a multitude of good friends and there's no way to make mention of all of them and the impact they've had on his life. One thing for sure, if you were a friend of Jim Fox, he was a loyal, true blue friend!

Family

As much as Jim loved his friends nothing was more important to him than his family. Jim was proceeded in death by his mother and father and his brother-in-law Harv Harvey. He made a point to visit his mother Hope regularly in Forest City and take care of her in her last years. Jim is survived by his sister Molly Harvey, a sister-in-law Martha (Richard) Stanford, 3 children, Elizabeth (Doug) Walters of Cedar Falls IA, Julie (Jerry) Stevens of Kansas City MO, Josef (Melissa) Fox of Waterloo IA, 7 grandchildren, Carrie (Kevin) McKinney of Cedar Falls, Rob (Melanie) Walters, of Iowa City IA, Jenny McBee of Tulsa OK, Jodi (Neil) Roberts of Des Moines IA, Adam Fox of Des Moines IA, Matthew (Taylor) Fox of Fulshear TX, James (Stephanie) Fox of Fulshear TX, 10 great-grandchildren, Austin McKinney, Tyler McBee, Calvin Roberts, Oliver Roberts, Monroe Fox, Sam Fox, Hayden Fox, Vincent Fox, Cooper Fox, Penelope Fox. 3 step-grandchildren, Brittany (Joe) Wagner, Ben (Jackie) Wagner, Roswell Brown, 4 step-great-grandchildren, Kinnley Smith, Addington Corbin, Duke Corbin, Maycee Ries.

Family time was always a special time. Jim loved to celebrate holidays and birthdays and any other special days with family and he and Nancy loved to have everyone over to enjoy a good home cooked meal and great family conversation. Jim was blessed to have all 3 of his children live in Waterloo and raise their children close to where Grandma and Grandpa Fox lived! If it wasn't a meal at their home, it was a bicycle ride or quick drive to the DQ for everyone's favorite ice cream. Speaking of bicycling, while Jim enjoyed riding in parts of RAGBRI for many years, he especially enjoyed getting his whole family (12 of us) out bicycling on the bike trails. Of course, these trips always included a picnic lunch made by Grandma!

Jim took his children on many wonderful family trips including Arizona, Washington DC, and Colorado skiing when Jim co-owned a condo at Keystone. When he and Nancy bought their home in Palm Beach Gardens Florida, family gravitated there to enjoy all that Florida had to offer including Disney!

In some ways the best trips for Jim and his children were the 2 hour drive up to Forest City to see his mom and stepdad. Many educational moments took place for the kids on those drives.

Nancy

For 70 years they were a part of each other's life. They weathered the peaks and valleys of life together better than most. They worked at it – they showed that it took commitment, it took love and respect, mostly though, it took a special connection. They were connected! Lovie and Lover – as they referred to each other! Jim really loved Nancy! Anyone who knew them and spent any time with them knew that their love language was "banter"! Common fodder for banter was their nightly games of gin rummy in which they wagered a penny a point. One had to pay up when the deficit reached $5! Or the weekly bets on football games in the fall. They would bet on all the games they would watch on TV and Jim always gave Nancy the first choice.

Spiritual

We know that Jim knew Jesus as his Savior while here with us. We know he knows the Lord much better than we do right now! Thanks in large part to the sharing of the Gospel by his very good friend Dick Witham, Jim finally understood and accepted the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

Soli Deo Gloria