James passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday evening, March 25, 2026 at Faith Health in Norfolk.  James chose body donation through Live On Nebraska.  Memorial Services will be held on Friday, June 12, 2026 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Clarinda at 10:30 a.m.  Burial will follow in the Butler Cemetery.

James was born July 29, 1953, in Shenandoah, IA, to Loyd Schwartz, WWII Air Force Veteran and Ruth (Woodruff) Schwartz, English and History teacher. Grandmother Ollie (Cabbage) Woodruff moved in with the family on their farm when James was 4, after a fire at her home in Shambaugh. James had been injured at birth, causing mild cerebral palsy which gave him a limp and slight tremor, but did not keep him from a fulfilling life.

James read well by the time he started school. He played piano as a child, and clarinet through high school. He helped feed animals, milk cows, and take care of chickens and the garden, like most farm children. He attended Shenandoah schools through 7th grade and graduated from Essex High School in 1971. He was active in 4-H and Presbyterian Youth. He completed his BA at Northwest Missouri State University in 1975, with a major in History. He attended the University of Iowa on scholarship based on a high GRE score and received his Masters in 1977 in City Administration. He worked as City Clerk in Sidney, IA, then as Assistant County Treasurer in Iowa City. At that time, he and his wife Deloris (Olson) Schwartz resided in Coralville. They had been high school sweethearts and were married from 1978 into the1990's.

While working in Iowa City, he had a fall on ice, badly injuring the same leg he had broken in a car accident when he was younger. When they had to do corrective surgery a year later, the doctor said it might only be 5 years until he could need a wheelchair. It was 40 years later! In Iowa City he was in the Society of Creative Anachronisms, an international group deeply interested in medieval history. After Iowa City, James was City Clerk of O'Neill, NE for 19 years. While there, he wrote several grants, served on the American Red Cross, Library, and Cemetery boards, and as Elder at the First Presbyterian Church. After his father's death in 1996, James cared for his mother in his home for about 5 years. Later, James was City Manager at Carter Lake, IA for a few years. He lived in Council Bluffs until June 2021, when he moved into Saint Joseph's Care Center
in Norfolk to be closer to his sister and her family.

James loved travel, and each summer when he was growing up, the family went on a car trip for 1-2 weeks. During college he traveled with a study group to England, Scotland, and Wales. James, Dee and his parents traveled yearly and later just James and his parents every year until 1996. He had visited 43 states, 7 Canadian provinces, and over 40 National Parks. He had a strong interest in history, politics, geography, and
conservation. He attended the Iowa Caucuses for many years and met and spoke with several presidential candidates (and later presidents). One of his favorites, because of his kindness and practical ideas, was Senator Bernie Sanders.

At Saint Joseph's he was President of the Resident's Council and served for almost 5 years. He learned the names and circumstances of patients and workers, trying to always do his best to look out for others. He attended gardening activities, crafts, Bingo, Jeopardy, exercise, church services, and Bible study. He organized card games, such as Pitch, and played several afternoons a week. He loved it when musical groups
performed and invited the residents to sing along. His voice had grown deeper and more melodious with age. He knew all the lyrics to many songs and said singing lifted his spirits. He and Faye sang a duet at the 2025 Christmas party. He read books daily on his Kindle, read newspapers, played & "Words with Friends", and watched YouTube. He went on short bus trips to see holiday lights, and in early March had gone to see flocks of geese on the Elkhorn River. He had a few high school, college, and gaming friends that phoned regularly, and his sister visited every other day. A big Iowa Hawkeye fan, he enjoyed watching sports, British mysteries, and cooking shows on TV. He'd been a good cook! He had an amazing memory for details related to family history, world history, geography, and sports. He loved visits from his niece and nephews, their significant others, and even their pups!

He was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, ex-wife, aunts, and uncles. He is survived by his sister Faye (Jim) Simpson of Norfolk, NE, niece Jenna  (Bryan) Thu of Sioux Falls, SD, nephews Nathan (Samantha D.) of Denver, CO and Nicholas (Kara) Simpson also of Denver, a grad-school best friend who was like family, Dennis Waltman of Atlanta, GA, and other dear friends and cousins.

Memorials will go towards a water tank for a village in Tanzania, the village of Sister Beatrice who met James at St. Joe's, and for a planter for the care center, suggested by roommate and pal, Delbert Wragge. James was a tissue/organ donor, and in that way continues a lifelong commitment to helping others. He will be greatly missed and remembered by many.