James Verlyn Jorgensen

James Verlyn Jorgensen, 87, went to be with his Lord and Savior on December 22, 2019. He was born August 20, 1932 to James and Vera Jorgensen of Hampton, Iowa. He grew up there with his brother Marlyn and sister Joyce. Jim graduated from Hampton Community High School in 1950, and then joined his father, James, and grandfather, Peter Jorgensen in their farming operation a few miles southwest of Hampton. He met Helen Happel of Latimer, Iowa in 1953 and they were married on July 24, 1955. They spent the next 64 years together. With Helen at his side, Jim was a proud and diligent steward of that Franklin County farmland until his retirement in 2000. He was named a Master Farmer by the Wallace's Farmer magazine in 1981. He was also a dedicated community member, serving on the board of directors of the Franklin General Hospital, the Farmers Co-Op, and Farmland Foods Corporation. Jim always had a project underway and he so loved the friendships that grew from countless hours spent at gas engine sales or working on Franklin County Historical Society projects, where he was known to share an occasional opinion about how things should be done. For years, Jim and Helen could be found ...[more]

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ving up homemade ice cream powered by one of Jim's gas engines at the Franklin County Fair. More recently, Jim was particularly proud of the Harriman-Nielsen Farm exhibit on the west side of Hampton. Jim and Helen raised five children together, four daughters and a son. He was an active member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Hampton and his abiding faith was the cornerstone of the family he loved so much. Jim's grandchildren and great-grandchildren were a special joy for him. He especially enjoyed spending time with his family at Clear Lake. Jim is preceded in death by his parents, brother-in-law Phil Piechowski, and son-in-law Roger Spath. He is survived by his loving wife, Helen, brother Marlyn (Ann), sister Joyce Piechowski, daughters Karen McVicker (Gary), Jeanine Efflandt, Peggy Badger (John), and Barbara Badger (Jamie), son James (Amanda); grandchildren Benjamin (Heather), Jacob (Jessi), and Isaiah Spath, Matthew Efflandt (Betsy) and Lindsay Clemenson (Garrett), Brooke Hull (Adam) and Renae Badger, Samuel, Alex, and Laura Badger, Mae and Andie Jorgensen; great grandchildren Vivian, Aidan, and Silas Hull, Harold Spath; and numerous extended family members. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Harriman-Nielsen Historic Farm or LCMS Mission Central (https://missioncentral.us/).