James “Jim” Maurice Hutchcroft, 91, of LaMotte, Iowa, went home to be with his beloved wife, Eulaine, surrounded by his loved ones on July 28, 2025, at Mill Valley Care Center in Bellevue, Iowa.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at St. Joseph Key West Catholic Church with Msgr. Thomas Toale officiating. Friends and family may visit from 9:00 a.m. until the time of mass at the church. Burial will follow in the Holy Rosary Cemetery in LaMotte, Iowa. Leonard Funeral Home and Crematory, 2595 Rockdale Road, is assisting the family.

Jim was born on August 11, 1933, to James and Honora “Nora” (Urbain) Hutchcroft on the family farm near Dubuque, Iowa. He was the second eldest of seven siblings.

In 1951, Jim met the love of his life, Eulaine Marie Shanahan, at a dance in Zwingle, Iowa. They married in 1954 and were blessed with nine children: Lois, Lori, Bill, Tom, Karen, Steve, Dave, Don, and Amy. Jim and Eulaine shared nearly 70 years of marriage before Eulaine’s passing in 2024.

Jim led a varied and hardworking career—starting as a livestock truck driver, then working for Marshall Construction building houses, followed by a role at Simpson Plumbing and Heating doing electrical and plumbing work. He also worked at John Deere and the Dubuque Packing Company, before beginning a long tenure with the Jackson County Secondary Roads Department in 1970, where he remained until his retirement in 2005.  As a young man, he enjoyed playing baseball in the Prairie League at a variety of positions.

In retirement, Jim enjoyed gardening, watching the Chicago Cubs, scratching the occasional lottery ticket, and spending time over morning coffee and an afternoon beer with friends.

He cherished his family and friendships deeply and had a great love for storytelling.  Jim was an avid hunter and fisherman of many species and was proud of his adventures. Some of his favorite memories included many elk hunting trips in Colorado and deep-sea fishing excursions in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

Jim is survived by his children: Lois Clasen, Lori (Jerry) Clasen, Bill (Betty) Hutchcroft, Tom Hutchcroft, Karen (Terry) Kilburg, Steve Hutchcroft, Dave (Kristi) Hutchcroft, Don Hutchcroft and Amy (Jed) Erickson.

His grandchildren:
Chad Clasen, Keith (Inna) Clasen, Kayla (Justin) Hanson, Jamie (Missy) Clasen, Janelle (Ben) Haun, Michelle (Jeremy) Budde, Chad (Julia Marambey) Till, Ryan (Jenny) Hutchcroft, Amber Hutchcroft, Andrew Hutchcroft, Cory Davis, and Alex, Anika, and Jake Erickson.

His great-grandchildren:
Aiden and Mila Clasen, Kayleigh Faulkner, Huxtin Hanson, Nora Clasen, Grayson, Guy, Grant, and Jay Haun, Kaitlyn Steines, Zach and Gabbie Scott, Cash, Corbyn, and Connor Budde, Anya and Ariana Marambey, Gwen Dunlap, and Ava Felderman.

His great-great-grandchildren:
Emery and Jaxson Steines, and Aurora Eiklenborg.

Surviving siblings:
Georgia (Jim) Willging, and John (Sandi) Hutchcroft.

Surviving in-laws:
Charlie Bergfeld, Dellene Till, Mary (George) Felderman, Chuck (Mary) Shanahan, Arlene Shanahan, Bob Timmerman, Ginny Heim, and Kay Shanahan.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his mother-in-law, Isabell (Lammer) Shanahan; his father-in-law, John Shanahan; his son-in-law, Paul Clasen; and daughter-in-law, Michelle Hutchcroft.

He was also preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law Bob and Leny Hutchcroft, sister and brother-in-law Joan and Jim Hickson, sister Emma Jean Bergfeld, brother Danny Hutchcroft, brothers-in-law Jerry Heim, Paul Shanahan and Pat Shanahan, sister-in-law Ann Timmerman, brother-in-law and sister-in-law Loras and Julie Shanahan.

Jim’s family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff of Mill Valley Care Center and Hospice of Jackson County for the excellent care he received.