Jimmy Rodger Rule

Jimmy Rodger Rule was born on October 25, 1937, in rural Clear Lake, Iowa the first born of Marvin and Gertrude (Kramer) Rule, and passed away March 25, 2024 at MercyOne Medical Center in Mason City, Iowa.
Jimmy began school in Clear Lake but then moved first to Swaledale, Iowa and then to rural Thornton, Iowa with his parents and two sisters, Jane and Nancy. He graduated from Swaledale High School in 1955. He then studied at Iowa State University where he received a bachelor's degree in vocational agriculture upon his graduation in 1959.
After graduation from Iowa State, Jimmy entered military service in the army from which he was honorably discharged to assist his father who had suffered a heart attack. Later he accepted a position teaching vocational agriculture in Buffalo Center, Iowa.
On July 20, 1963, Jimmy was united in marriage to Helen Moberg in St. Paul, Minnesota. After a short time in Swaledale, Jimmy and Helen made their home on a farm in Nora Springs, Iowa. They grew corn and soybeans and were farrow to finish pork producers. They raised their two children there.
After leaving farming, they remained on the acreage but began working with Wycliffe Associates. Jimmy and Helen traveled across the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic states doing fundraising banquets to increase awareness about Wycliffe Bible Translators. They moved later to Dallas, Texas where Jimmy worked as Director of Development for GIAL a linguistic school for Bible translators. Retirement brought them to West Des Moines, Iowa to be closer to family.
Helen passed on December 21, 2019 and Jimmy moved to Pella, Iowa the following November, after suffering an injury from a fall. Jimmy lived with his daughter, Jeanne, and her family until late December 2023 when he moved to the Sheffield Care Center. He remained there until having to be admitted to MercyOne Medical Center.
Jimmy is preceded in death by his parents, Marvin and Gertrude, his wife, Helen and a brother-in-law, Jim Clark.
Jimmy is survived by his daughter: Jeanne (Lonnie) Lanferman of Pella and their children, Jacob (Julia), Mikala, Rebekah, and Rachel; son: Scott (Lisa) Rule of Chillicothe, MO and their children, Libby and Emma; sisters: Jane Clark and Nancy ((Jesse) Rhoads.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Hope Ministries in Des Moines, Iowa.
A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. with a one-hour prior visitation on Saturday, March 30, 2024, at Woodley Funeral Home in Hampton. Reverend William Tvedt will be officiating with burial to follow at Pleasant Valley Cemetery in Swaledale. Woodley Funeral Home of Sheffield is caring for Jimmy and his family.