James W. Rhubottom

SIOUX CITY -- James William Rhubottom, 63, of Council Bluffs, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, died Thursday, April 21, 2011, at the Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha after a six-month battle with cancer.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Cathedral of the Epiphany in Sioux City. The Rev. William Vit will officiate. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a parish vigil service at 7 p.m., at Larkin Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.
Jim was born in Sioux City on Nov. 25, 1947, the son of Wilbur "Bill" and Helen Catherine (Gunderson) Rhubottom. He attended St. Joseph Grade School and graduated from Heelan High School in 1966. After high school, he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Hancock during the Vietnam War. After he left the service he returned to Sioux City and went to work as a conductor for Chicago-Northwestern Railroad, that later became Union Pacific Railroad.
On June 24, 1967, he married Donna M. Scott in Sioux City. They lived in Sioux City, until they moved to Sloan, Iowa, in 1977. Because of his job they moved to Council Bluffs in 1997. Jim was still employed with the railroad at the time of his death.
He was member of St. Peter Catholic Church in Council Bluffs. He served as the local chairman for the U.T.U., loved to golf and was an avid Iowa Hawkeye sports fan. He enjoyed all kind of sports but what he loved most was attending the sporting events his grandchildren were involved in. Jim also loved hosting Texas Hold'em poker tourneys for family and friends. Family was the most important part of his life. As one of eight children, he was very close with them all and made sure family reunions were held every year, most with a theme that encouraged a lot of fun and interaction. It is a tradition his children plan to continue.
He is survived by his wife, Donna of Council Bluffs; his children, Melissa and James Pierce of Odebolt, Iowa, Scott of Council Bluffs, Jay and Michelle of Omaha; his mother-in-law, Marcella Scott of Council Bluffs; his grandchildren, Jordan, Devon, Amarissa, Jaylissa, Karissa, Alexander and an expected grandchild; his brother and sisters, Geraldine "Jeri" and Howard Simmons of St. Peters, Mo., Raymond and Marva of Oceanside, Calif., CoraMarie "Corky" O'Leary of Central City, Iowa, Theresa and Gerald (Dewey) McPeek of St. Peters, Mo., Mary Alewel of St. Charles, Mo., Julie and Rob Underwood of Gardner, Kan.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a sister, Sharon Bruggeman.