James Adams Jr. Oct. 2, 1938 – March 14, 2020

      James Adams Jr. age 81, died Saturday, March 14, 2020 at the Monticello Nursing and Rehabilitation Center following an extended illness. Jim donated his body to University of Iowa Department of Anatomy for research.

      Funeral services are currently planned for 11 a.m. Saturday, June 20, 2020 at Goettsch Funeral Home, Monticello, where friends may call after 9:30 a.m. (Please check the website; Goettschonline.com for any changes in date and time.) Memorials may be made to the Iowa National Heritage Foundation or the Michael J. Fox Foundation.

      He is survived by his wife, Joy, two nieces Kathy (Pat Devaney) Adams, Marcia (Tony) Kraus, and two nephews, Mike (Lisa) Adams, Scott (Jennie) Adams and many great-nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Dick.

      James Charles Adams Jr. was born Oct. 2, 1938 at John McDonald Hospital, Monticello, Iowa. He was the son of James and Kathryn Pillard, Adams. Jim graduated from Monticello Community Schools in 1956. He went on to serve in the United States Army. Jim married Joy Ann Miller on Aug. 7, 1978 at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Monticello.

     Jim started his working career as a teenager working for the Scotch Grove Nursery. When he was a junior in high school he convinced his parents to let him start a nursery on their acreage on the north edge of Monticello. Jim also started a construction business as a young man, and built over 200 homes in the Monticello area. He continued to operate the nursery until the mid-1980's as well.
Jim loved nature and the earth. In 1962 he purchased 22 acres in Richland Township that was going to be developed and turned it into his homestead and nature preserve. In his contracting days he helped develop the Jacobs Park area. He was instrumental in the design of Riverside Gardens and the nature trail. He and Joy hosted many garden walks and were co-founders of the Cedar Valley Iris and Daylily Society, and the Dubuque Regional Hosta Society.