James Craig Burras

James Craig Burras died peacefully on June 10, 2024, at the Haven-Custead Hospice Care Center surrounded by family and an outstanding Hospice Team. He was 70 years old. James was born on January 13, 1954, at the Ottumwa (Iowa) Hospital. He was Irving and Stella (Shirley) Burras’s second child. James began his education in Eagle Grove and completed it at Boone Valley after his family moved to their farm near Renwick in 1963. He graduated from Boone Valley High School in 1973.

James led a varied and interesting life. Immediately after high school, he apprenticed with Fritz Gugger and Son Carpentry in Renwick while they built the Gimer House near Smith Park. Following that he enlisted in the US Navy, where he spent his 22-year career in anti-submarine warfare. His first and favorite sea duty was in the Pacific Ocean on the USS Ramsey (FFG-2, guided missile frigate) as part of its helicopter crew charged with keeping track of Soviet submarines. That was a crucially important mission during a time of intense naval activity that coincided with the progressive fall of South Vietnam and Cambodia with the Ramsey providing support in Operation Frequent Wind, resignation of President Richard Nixon, improving USA-PRC relationship and the corresponding increased USA-USSR competition created by these incredible changes. The highpoint of that cruise for James were port calls in the Philippines and in Japan. James enjoyed his other duty stations and ships, which were highly varied e.g., arctic service at the Naval Air Facility Adak (Alaska) and tropical service at the Naval Air Facility on Diego Garcia (Indian Ocean). At both locations his service meant intense weather coupled with long days patrolling on Lockheed Orion P-3C aircraft. James – like the good sailor he was – biggest complaint about each station was their paucity of women. James’s final duty station was the Jacksonville (Florida) Naval Air Station. He retired as Petty Officer First Class (E-6) in 1995. James’s badges and medals included Aviation Warfare Specialist, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Humanitarian Service Medal and the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

While in the Navy, James’s natural curiosity and athleticism blossomed. He took up scuba diving, camping in the Western mountains, going on long bike rides and playing Navy league football. On port calls he always made it a point to visit local points of interest and shop for souvenirs and gifts before socializing with other crew members on liberty. In the early 1980’s James graduated from Iowa Central Community College.

James married Joanna Reed (an Air Force veteran) in Fort Dodge on May 05, 1984. They spent their early married life in San Diego where James was stationed at the Naval Air Station North Island. Their much beloved sons Matthew (born 1986) and Austin (born 1988) were born there. In the early 1990’s the family moved to Middleburg, Florida, where his sons continue to call home.

Following his retirement from the Navy, James’ primary job was as a long-distance truck driver. It was an occupation that came naturally to him given his love of travel and meeting people as well as his mission driven personality. His hobbies included gardening – for which the Florida climate was ideal – and caring for his own and neighborhood cats. In fact, James was a lifelong lover of animals, always treating them kindly and probably overfeeding them if his siblings’ behavior carried over to him.

James was preceded in death by his wife Joanna, parents Irving and Stella, brothers Bernie and Ray (aka, Burdette) and sister-in-law, Alicia. Survivors are two sons – Matthew (Mera Mie) and Austin, granddaughter Freya Isabel; four siblings - Gail (Ray) of Pontiac, IL, Rex (Christine) of Mauldin, SC, Lee (Lori) of Ames, IA, and Bruce of West Lafayette, IN; and seven nephews and nieces (Justin, Dan, Katy, Mary, Andy, Brandon, Katrina).

James was a kind man whose biggest regret was not living quite long enough to hold his first grandchild, Freya. He is deeply missed.

James will reunite with Joanna during a family-only Committal Service on December 07, 2024 at the Holly Hill Memorial Park in Middleburg FL. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/178637264/joanna-kay-burras

Memorials for James should be made to the:

American Heart Association Florida

Hampton Medical

7751 Baymeadows Road E #106

Jacksonville, FL 32256

https://www.heart.org/en/affiliates/florida

Safe Animal Shelter

2913 Country Road 220

Middleburg, FL 32068

https://safeanimalshelter.com/