Bartley James Needham

Bartley J. Needham, 85, of Waukon, IA, died Wednesday, July 6, 2016, at Arbor Springs Care Center in West Des Moines, IA. Funeral services will be held Monday, July 11th, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon, IA, with Rev. Msgr. Cletus Hawes and Fr. Donald Hawes officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 2:45 PM scripture service.

Bartley James Needham was born January 28, 1931, in Waukon, IA, the son of Bartley Sr. and Katherine (Sweeney) Needham. He graduated from Waukon High School. In 1953, Bart married Mary Jo Wachter at St. Pius at Cherry Mound Catholic Church in Harpers Ferry, IA. For 30 years, Bart managed the Waukon Redi-Mix plant and also farmed.

He was a member of St. Mary's Lycurgus and St. Patrick Catholic Churches in Waukon. Bart loved to fish and owned a houseboat in De Soto, WI, for over 20 years; he also took a memorable trip to Texas for deep sea fishing. He also like playing euchre and spending time with family and friends. Traveling was a favorite hobby of his and Bart enjoyed taking the train around the country and visiting California to see his daughter Deb.

Bart is survived by his four children: Kaye (Chuck) Gifford of Des Moines, IA, Jim (Bev Larson) Needham of Waukon, Deb Broll of Santa Rosa, CA, and Michael (Bridget) Needham of Dallas Center, IA; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; and his brother Dale Needham of West Des Moines, IA.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Mary Jo in 1975; and sister-in-law Katie Needham.

Honorary casketbearers are Bart's grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Casketbearers are Jake, Austin, and Zachary Needham, Gavin and Jared Feuerhelm, and Joe Bloxham.