James Sodey
James Carleton Sodey, 68, of Lansing, formerly of Fort Madison, passed away Thursday, October 12, 2017 at his home. A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, October 21 at the Fort Madison United Methodist Church with Rev. Lane Van officiating.
Friends may call after 2 p.m. Friday, October 20, with the family to receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Friday evening at King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory in Fort Madison. In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund has been established for the City of Fort Madison’s Marina or P.A.W. Animal Shelter.
James was born March 25, 1949 in Ottumwa to Dr. Albert and Mrs. Charlotte Sodey. He married Angela McKenna September 5, 1970 in Ottumwa.
Jim attended Iowa Wesleyan from 1967 to 1970, where he was a member of Lamda Chi Alpha Fraternity. He graduated from the University of Iowa in 1971 with a B.S. in Sociology. He attended Agricultural Lending School at Iowa State University and received a Master's degree in Banking from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 1984. He taught a variety of classes for the Iowa Banker's Association as well as Junior Achievement classes in Fort Madison.
He worked for different bank holding corporations, progressing to bank president at 35 years of age. He was President of Iowa State Bank from 1985 until 1989, when he was named President of Fort Madison Bank and Trust Company. In 2005, he became a financial consultant for Greg Shottenkirk of Shottenkirk Automotive. He retired in 2014.
Over the years he became an active part of many civic and community organizations. He was President of Rotary, President of the Ambassadors, President and Treasurer of the Fort Madison Chamber of Commerce, President of Fort Madison's first Main Street program, a member of the Fort Madison Economic Development Corporation Board, a member of the Fort Madison Parks and Recreation Board, a member of the Lee County Condemnation Committee, and a member of the Fort Madison Country Club Board.
Jim was an avid boater with a passion for life on the water. He was happiest when at the helm of his 38-foot Carver, sharing this passion with friends and family, especially his children and grandchildren, on the Mississippi River. He enjoyed home improvement shows and woodworking, Iowa Hawkeyes and Green Bay Packers football, and outdoor adventures he experienced in Colorado.
Jim is survived by two sons: Jay (Tara) Sodey of Verona, WI and Christopher (Heidi) Sodey of Ankeny; six grandchildren; his mother, Charlotte Sodey of Ottumwa; one brother, John (Susan) Sodey of Altoona; his sisters-in-law, Mary McKenna of Incline Village, NV, Kathy (Brad) Lichtenheld of Eagle, CO, Peggy (Greg) Johnson of Phoenix, AZ and Jacci (Ken) McKenna Pollock of Eagle, CO; and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Dr. Albert Sodey.
A special thank you to Jim’s in-home caregivers in Lansing.
Online condolences and a video tribute of Jim’s life may be viewed at the King-Lynk Funeral Home & Crematory website at www.kinglynk.com.
