James "Jim" David Maurer

James “Jim” David Maurer age 82 of Fayette died Sunday, August 16, 2026 at Riceville Family Care & Therapy Center.

Friends may greet the family from 3:00 – 6:00 p.m. Friday, August 21, 2026 at Hugeback-Johnson Funeral Home & Crematory in New Hampton.

641-394-4334.

Jim was born on April 9, 1944, in West Union, Iowa, the son of E.W. “Lefty” and Gladys Maurer. He was the oldest of four children, followed by his brothers, Gary and Dwight, and his sister, Karla, who completed the family 15 years later. Jim attended the Farm Management program at Iowa State University before enlisting in the United States Army. He proudly served his country and was honorably discharged in 1967.

Jim married Linda Risse of Dunkerton on April 12, 1969, at First Lutheran Church in Waterloo. The couple lived and worked at Winchester Farms in Fayette, where they welcomed twin sons, Brent and Trent, and daughter, Jennifer. After moving to Lawler and starting their own Angus herd, Movin-On Angus, they welcomed their son, William, completing their family. Jim and Linda later divorced.

Jim worked at Sara Lee in New Hampton until the facility closed and later worked for Upper Iowa University, retiring in 2018. He eventually settled outside of Fayette, where he continued to enjoy the farm, cattle, and the people who had become such an important part of his life.

If there was one thing that defined Jim’s life, it was cattle.

His love for cattle began as a young boy when he started showing Shorthorn cattle and sheep at local county fairs and the Iowa State Fair. That passion continued throughout his life, eventually leading him to raise and show Angus cattle on the family farm south of Lawler. Through Movin-On Angus, Jim became well known throughout the cattle-showing community, exhibiting cattle at local, state, and national shows.

Family summers were often spent traveling from one cattle show to another, including the National Junior Angus Show, the Iowa State Fair, and county fairs throughout the region. Jim spent countless hours hauling cattle with his children in tow. Along the way, he made lifelong friends—and, as Jim would probably admit, more than a few enemies. The stories and memories made along those trips became some of his favorite things to talk about in his later years.

Jim also gave generously of his time to young people, serving as the 4-H Beef Superintendent at the county fair. He took great pride in watching young people learn the responsibility and dedication that came with showing livestock. Nothing made him prouder than seeing his youngest son, William, carry on the family tradition by starting his own cattle herd and watching his granddaughters show cattle. He would brag about their accomplishments to nearly anyone who would listen.

One of the greatest honors of Jim’s cattle-showing years came when the family exhibited a National Champion Carcass Steer at the National Junior Angus Show in Wisconsin. He was incredibly proud of the family’s hard work and the honors they earned year after year.

Retirement did not mean slowing down for Jim. He spent countless hours helping William build fence, checking pastures, counting cows, and doing what he considered one of the most important jobs on the farm—picking up sticks. Jim’s philosophy was simple: every stick you pick up is a blade of grass for the cows.

Fall Friday nights belonged to Turkey Valley football, where Jim watched his sons take the field. It was one of his greatest joys, and his passion could be seen and heard from the sidelines.

Jim loved Iowa and was a devoted Iowa Hawkeyes fan. When the television wasn’t tuned to a Hawkeye game, chances were good that a Western was playing. He enjoyed visiting with people and never met a stranger for long. He was always willing to help someone however he could.

Jim was strong-willed, outspoken, and never afraid to tell you exactly what he thought. His passion for life ran deep, and his temper could run just as high. He was not always the easiest man to get along with, but beneath that tough exterior was a man whose love for his children and grandchildren was undeniable.

When Jim’s battle with dementia began to progress in 2019, his memories of cattle, farming, and family slowly began to fade, along with his physical abilities. During those difficult years, his family found comfort knowing he was cared for by loving staff members at Cobblestone Court Assisted Living, Patty Elwood Center, Riceville Nursing Home, and Howard County Hospice. The years of watching Jim decline were difficult for his family, but they found comfort in knowing he was surrounded by people who cared for him and that, ultimately, his life remained in God’s hands.

Jim’s legacy will live on through the cattle he loved, the traditions he passed down, the stories told at cattle shows and around the farm, and most importantly, through the children and grandchildren who carry a piece of him with them.

Jim is survived by his four children, Brent Maurer, Trent Maurer (Myssi), Jennifer Maurer, and William Maurer (Heather); eight grandchildren, Kalista, Brandan, Chelbie, Riesse, Connor, Samuel Latim, Lyndin, and Quinnlyn; four great-grandchildren, Bauer, Josephine, Monroe, and Malcolm; and his siblings, Gary Maurer (Nancy), Karla Sprague (Chuck), and Dwight Maurer (Kathy).

He was preceded in death by his parents, E.W. “Lefty” and Gladys Maurer.