James Gilbert Lair

James Gilbert Lair, passed away Sunday, 2/6/2022, at The Willows of Marshalltown assisted living facility in Marshalltown, Iowa after a short illness. Dad was 11 days shy of turning 99 on February 17. Following a private family burial at the Riverside Cemetery, his family will host a Celebration of Life along with a time of sharing from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. Sunday, February 13th at the First Friends Church. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Friends Church. For further information or to send Gilbert’s family a condolence, please visit mitchellfh.com or call the Mitchell Family Funeral Home at 641-844-1234. He is survived by his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and their spouses: his son, James N. (Betsy M.) Lair, daughter, Lois E. Lair (Tom Lane); two grandchildren, Angela McCann-Lair (Jason O’Connell), Elizabeth (Adrian) Gerhard; and three great grandchildren, James Fuhrken, Evan Fuhrken, and Clara Gerhard. Gilbert was a member of the First Friends Church since infancy and was involved in various charities, businesses, and his first love, farming, for over 60 years in the central Iowa-Marshall County area. Gilbert was a World War II Veteran and served in Italy.