James Leonard Rork
December 16, 1937 — August 17, 2025
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Service Details
James Leonard Rork
December 16, 1937 -August 17, 2025
James was born on December 16, 1937, in Anita, Iowa, to the late Leonard and Addie (Oberholtz) Rork.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Esther, Edith and Evelyn and brother Fred.
Jim is survived by his daughters, Mary (Doug) Watson, Patricia Barrer and Sally (Aaron) Gonzales; grandchildren, Jennifer, Jessica, Joelle, Randy, Jake, Elias, and Nicole-Marie; seven great grandchildren and sister, Ella (Rork) Brosh.
Jim enjoyed watching the Chicago Cubs, fishing, camping, bowling and working on cars. He was a member of King David Lodge, Order of The Eastern Star, DeMolay and Scottish Rite.
Celebration of life will be held Friday, October 17, 2025 at Hamilton's Altoona Funeral Home, 105 4th Street SW in Altoona from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Jim will be laid to rest at a later date at Evergreen Cemetery in Anita, Iowa.
Memorial contributions may be directed to The Mission Cancer Foundation in loving memory of Jim.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.hamiltonsfuneralhome.com
Abby (Home Instead CarePro)
09/08/2025
I was Jim’s main caregiver for home instead. After being away from caregiving for four years I finally returned in May, Jim was my first client. From day one Jim was cracking jokes despite his circumstances. We spent the whole summer talking about his family, fishing, and driving trucks. Jim had a huge smile on his face whenever we were out in public or taking walks around the apartment complex. He was always cracking jokes and giving people a hard time. I’m glad I got to be there for the good moments and even the bad. From going to appointments with him to being there to hold his hand when he was scared. I remember the day he told me he wanted to start using the feeding tube. I held his hand and said we will figure it out together. After talking with my RN, Jim and I were almost always successful with the tube. One of my last days working with him I was administering medicine and it got clogged. Jim nor I had noticed a pill was stuck we just figured we needed to get new syringes so I pushed down and the syringe shot out of the tube and sprayed both of us. We just looked at each other and laughed and he said “wow you really done it now.” I couldn’t of asked for a better last memory of him. Even though we all miss him like crazy. I know that he is at peace. He used to say “please make me feel better.” It would break my heart knowing there was nothing I could do besides hold his hand and tell him it will be okay. I know that he is up in heaven watching over his family and trout fishing of course and he finally feels better.
Brianna owens
08/21/2025
Patty
Im sorry for your loss prayers are being sent to you and your family
Cynthia R Silver
08/20/2025
So sorry for your loss. Patty I know you loved him with all your heart. Prayers for you my friend.
Michelle Stier (Home Instead Care Giver)
08/20/2025
So very sorry for your loss. I work for Home Instead and was Jim's care giver on Thursday's and done 1 Saturday. I was very sad when hearing of Jim's passing. He was such a sweet guy. I only got to work with Jim for a month or little longer.
The first time I went to Jim's, the nurse from Home Instead met me there to introduce us and show me what I needed to do and how to feed Jim. The next time I was there, I was kind of nervous hoping everything would go good with feeding Jim and giving him his meds. Well we had some trouble. The meds kept getting clogged in the tube, but Jim was very patient with me, and we finally got them down. As we were having trouble, I said to Jim are you ready to fire me? Jim looked at me and smiled and shook his head yes. I said to him Jim, you can't fire me yet this is the first time I'm doing this by myself, please give me a chance. Jim looked at me and laughed and said no, your ok and your doing fine. So the next few times I was there everything went great, and had no problems. Boy he had me sweating when he said yes he was ready to fire me. One more story I would like to tell. I took Jim to the bank on a Saturday morning, and as we were heading back to his place, Jim looked at me with a serious look on his face and said "HEY, WILL YOU PULL INTO WENDY'S THERE AND GET ME A BURGER"? I SAT THERE FOR A SECOND AND THOUGHT DID HE JUST ASK ME WHAT I THOUGHT HE ASKED ME? I TURNED AND LOOKED AT JIM AND SAID NOW JIM, YOU CAN'T HAVE A BURGER AND HE JUST STARTED LAUGHING. THEN JIM SAID TO ME, I JUST SAID THAT TO SEE IF YOU WOULD ACTUALLY PULL IN THERE AND STARTED LAUGHING. I SAID JIM YOU THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO REALLY DO IT, AND THEN WE BOTH JUST LAUGHED. I SAID YOUR A STINKER. WE HAD FUN, AND JIM WAS SUCH A SWEET GUY. I WILL DEFINETLY MISS HIM. AGAIN SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS, AND PRAYERS TO YOUR FAMILY.
MICHELLE
Isabelle Piedras
08/20/2025
I worked with Jim for only a few weeks but in that time I saw how he was such a light. So saddened by his passing. May he rest in love and peace.