James A. Stroud

James Stroud, 86 of Aledo, died Monday, May 4, 2009 at the Mercer County Hospital. Services will be Thursday at 1:00 PM at the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, with visitation 2 hours prior to services. Burial will be in the Aledo Cemetery. Memorials may be made to the Shriners Children’s Hospital or the College Avenue Presbyterian Church. Speer Funeral Home is assisting the family. Jim was born November 18, 1922 in Armington, Illinois to John and Ruby (Gipson) Stroud. He graduated from Hittle Township High School in Armington and from Illinois State at Normal in 1948 with a B.S. in Agriculture. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1942-1945. Jim married Willa Mae Strotman in 1946. She preceded him in death in 1962. He married Joan Hunter in 1963. Jim worked for the Dept. Of Agriculture until 1954 and then taught school, retiring from Community Unit District #201 in 1984. Jim served on the Aledo City Council for 22 years. He was a member of the College Avenue Presbyterian Church, Aledo Masonic Lodge, Moline Consistory and Medinah Temple. Through the years Jim enjoyed golf, council work and his family. Survivors include his wife, Joan; 2 sons, Bill of Nyack, NY and David of Aledo; 3 daughters and spouses: Susan & Neil Petersen of Durant, IA; Norma & Dennis Downing of Aledo and Nancy Stroud of Des Moines, IA; 10 grandchildren: Lori, Jim, Natalie, Jonathon, Wendy, Dan, Lucas, Adam, Matthew and Vaughn; 2 step-grandchildren, Torey Downing and Joelly Greene and 8 great-grandchildren. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, a sister and a daughter, Kristin.