Millard "Jim" Maxted

Millard “Jim” Maxted, 89, of Marshalltown, Iowa, passed away peacefully on the evening of June 10, 2024 at the Iowa River Hospice Home.

Per Jim’s wishes, cremation rites have been accorded and a family-led celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 15, 2024 at Central Christian Church in Marshalltown. There will be a time of visitation from 10:00 to 11:00 A.M. followed by the memorial service beginning at 11:00 A.M. A luncheon will follow in the fellowship hall. Memorials in Jim’s name may be directed to either Central Christian Church, Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown or Iowa River Hospice Home. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family, please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Millard James Maxted Jr. was born on January 6, 1935 in Oskaloosa, Iowa. He was the youngest of two children born to Millard James Sr. and Myrtle (Shaw) Maxted. Jim grew up in Oskaloosa and would later graduate with the Class of 1953. He continued his education at Iowa State University where he graduated with a doctoral degree in veterinary medicine in 1959.

On March 23, 1957, Jim married the love of his life, Mary JoAnn “Jody” Butler at the Central Christian Church in Marshalltown, Iowa. After finishing his education, they first lived in Oskaloosa and then moved to Sacramento, California, where Jim worked for local veterinary clinics. They returned to Marshalltown in 1961, opened Maxted Animal Clinic and began raising their family of four children, Mark, Mitchell, Martha, and Melanie. He thoroughly enjoyed caring for the beloved pets of Central Iowa families. Jim sold his practice in 1991 and began working for the United States Department of Agriculture as an animal welfare health inspector.

In and out of work, Jim was actively involved with the community, being part of the Marshalltown Junior Chamber, Kiwanis Matins, the YMCA, Ducks Unlimited, Marshalltown School Board, Iowa State Alumni Association, Die Hards, and the Hawkeye Fly Fishing Club. In his free time, he enjoyed fishing and hunting as well as tying his own flies for his fly fishing passion. He stayed active with handball, racquetball, and golf. Jim also loved spending time in the barn working with his Dorset sheep herd. Jim and Jody traveled extensively over the years. During his retirement years he enjoyed his volunteer time at the Animal Learning Center at the Iowa State Fair. He always prioritized family and would often be found cheering on his grandchildren at their sporting events and activities. Naturally, with being an ISU alumnus, Jim was an avid Iowa State Cyclone athletics fan.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his wife of 67 years, Jody Maxted; his children: Mark Justin Maxted, Mitchell (Kumi) Maxted and Martha (Matt) Loney; and his grandchildren: James Maxted, Manami Maxted, Motoki Maxted, Parker Klyn, Cara Klyn, Luke Loney, and Grace Loney; his sweet dog Daisy and his granddog Frank.

He is preceded in death by his daughter, Melanie Maxted; his parents, Millard and Myrtle (Shaw) Maxted; his sister, Donna Dodds; his father and mother-in-law, Orin and Rose Butler; his maternal mother-in-law, Hazel (Hickman) Butler; and brother and sister-in law, Dennis Butler and Sandra Smith.