James R. "Buck" Hill

James R. “Buck” Hill, 81, of Marion, died at Mercy Medical Center on Tuesday, Nov. 20, 2012, from complications of diabetes. Family and friends are invited to a graveside service at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23, in the Garden of the Last Supper at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, officiated by Chaplain Dan Hoeger. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Best Western Longbranch Hotel and Convention Center immediately following the service. Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.

Survivors include his wife, Sue of Marion; four children, Larry Hill of Willow Springs, Mo., Jim (Ozzie) of Salisbury, N.C., Randy of Marion and Julie (Steve) Wermager of Robins; and stepson, Nick (Susan) Guerra of Oswego, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; brothers, George (Jan) and Walt (Pat) of Marion; sister, Nancy (Larry) Lacy of Cedar Rapids; sisters-in-law, Marlene Hill of Cedar Rapids and Gloria Hill of North Carolina; brothers-in-laws, Ron (Sandy) McDaniel of St. Louis, Mo. and Michael (Bob) McDaniel of Nashville, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Harold, Dick and Mahlon; sisters, Cleo, Naomi and Betty; mother and father-in-law; and stepson, Peter Guerra.

Jim “Buck” was born Feb. 14, 1931, in Marion, Iowa, to the late George and Lillian Hill. He grew up one of 10 children living on various farms his father rented or owned doing what it took to help the family out in those days. Because he came from a hard working family he was known all his life as a hard worker, who believed he could do anything he set his mind to. For a couple years he owned an ice cream store in Little Rock, Ark.

He then enjoyed coming back to Cedar Rapids with his family and moving on to do outside automotive parts sales. He would call on many outlying towns and would get to know countless other hardworking small-business men and their families. He then worked several years as a realtor for his brother, George Hill at Hawkeye Hill Reality. It was not until his middle years that he fulfilled a dream of establishing his own contracting business, Harvest Hill Construction. He dealt with commercial and residential remodeling. He was always well respected as being a good and honest businessman, for having a good sense of humor, loving his family as well as his acreage, his horses or any horse for that matter! He was an exceptional role model and person to remember with laughter and love.

We, as his loved ones, feel extremely privileged to have had so many wonderful memories of fun times shared with him. He will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him.

Memorials may be made to the American Diabetes Association.

Please leave a message, tribute or memory on the online guest book at www.cedarmemorial.com.

Published in The Gazette Nov. 21, 2012.