James A. Rood

James A. Rood

Clearfield

James A. Rood, 92, formerly of Clearfield, Iowa, Richland, Iowa, Fairfield, Iowa, and Largo, Florida, passed away peacefully on July 25th, 2023, at his home in Largo, Florida. He was born on February 26, 1931, to Allen Dwight Rood and Lois Lorraine Bailey in Clearfield, Iowa. He was very active in sports as a young man. He was drafted into the Army at age 22 and served for two years before he was honorably discharged. After returning home from the Army, he received two degrees in Education from Northwest Missouri State College in Maryville, Missouri. In 1967 he earned his Education Specialist Degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

He was married to Henrietta Agnes Votava from 1952-1978, when she preceded him in death. From this union he had a daughter, Sheila Brown (Jerry). His career began as a Business and Physical Education Instructor in 1955. At Clearfield Community Schools, he was proud to take the girls basketball team to state championship and coached girls and boys basketball, boys baseball, Assistant Coach to boys football and girls track. His career spanned 38 years in education. 30 years as an Administrator and 25 years as Superintendent of Schools at the Pekin School District in Iowa.

In 1987, he married Rosemary Brownlee, and lovingly accepted two additional daughters to his life, Karin Monvoisin and Sally Parker. Together Jim and Rosemary enjoyed traveling, golf and his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes. He retired in 1993 and enjoyed 30 years of retirement between Fairfield and Florida, settling in Largo, Florida in 2021.

Besides his first wife, Etta, he was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Virginia (Peg) and Sharon.

He is survived by his wife, Rosemary; his daughter, Sheila and stepdaughters, Karin and Sally; 3 grandchildren, Amber Rikkels (Ben Hayes), Brooks Brown and Meagan Inghram (Clarke); and 5 great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held in Clearfield, Iowa, later. A memorial will be established to benefit education, in his memory.