James "Tony" Urell
James “Tony” A. Urell, 78, of Waukon died Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at his home in rural Waukon. Funeral services were held Monday, December 2 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. John the Baptist West Ridge Cemetery in rural Waukon.
James “Tony” Anthony Urell was born September 11, 1941 in Waukon, the son of Thomas and Ethel (Drew) Urell. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patrick Catholic Church and attended St. Patrick Catholic School, both in Waukon. October 14, 1961, he married Kathryn “Kate” Waters at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in New Albin. Tony worked for Holland Brothers and then for JB Holland, both in Decorah, from 1967 until he retired in 2003; he operated machinery and was a mechanic. He also farmed the family farm in the Patterson Creek area, raising beef cattle and crops.
Tony was a member of St. Patrick Catholic Church and the Patterson Creek Social Club. He loved being outdoors, hunting and making trails with his skid loader. Tony enjoyed playing pool, euchre and checkers. He also liked polishing old tools and spending time with family and friends. He was very proud of his Irish heritage and loved celebrating St. Patrick’s Day.
In 1989, Kate and Tony took in the Fahey kids when they lost their parents. They have been a big part of the Urell family ever since. Tony enjoyed many adventures with the Faheys, especially helping Nancy with spelling words when she was young.
Survivors include his wife, Kate Urell of Waukon; his children, Dale (Kelly) Urell, Ed (Denise) Urell, Linda (Dan) Ryan, Perry Fahey, Darrell Fahey, Eileen (Duane “Woody”) Wood and Maureen (Andy Schlitter) Fahey, all of Waukon, and Nancy Fahey of Cedar Rapids; seven grandchildren: Ian (Allison) Urell, Devin and Sarah Ryan, Claire and Cassey Urell, and Megan and Meika Fahey; two sisters, Mary Brandt of Atkins and Sarah Drew of Cedar Rapids; a brother-in-law, Howard Sorum of Cedar Rapids; two sisters-in-law, Mary Fink of Waukon and Jean (John) Gavin of Harpers Ferry; four brothers-in-law: Jim (Dorothy) Waters and Harold (Carol) Waters, both of New Albin, Tom (Mary Jo Nordheim) Waters of Waukon and Ray (Jess Schock-McCallson) Waters of Brownsville, MN; and many nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents; an infant daughter; a son, Tom Urell; a sister, Judy Sorum; a brother, John Urell; two sisters-in-law, Lela Urell and Joann Schwartzhoff; and four brothers-in-law, Ralph Brandt, Donnie Drew, Rodney “Occo” Fink and James Schwartzhoff.
Honorary casketbearers were Pat and Kate Curtin, Bernard and Eileen Berns, Charlie and Ann Byrnes, Ed and Janie Schulte, Howard Sorum, and the Patterson Creek Social Club. Casketbearers were Devin Ryan, Ian Urell, Perry and Darrell Fahey, Dennis Mahr, Tom Waters, Duane “Woody” Wood and Andy Schlitter. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
