Carla Jo James, age 57, of Glidden unexpectedly passed away on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 at her home in Glidden.
A Private Family Funeral Service will be held at the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll on Monday, April 13, 2020. The Priests of St. John Paul II Parish in Carroll will preside. Casket Bearers will be Carla’s family. Burial will be in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Dedham.
A Live Stream Broadcast and recording of Carla’s service can be found by visiting the Sharp Funeral Home Carroll, Iowa YouTube Channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqd2eeRJk5RTdEJoEooUoAQ. An Icon on that page will be available by 10:55 a.m. Monday.
In Lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the Carla James Memorial Fund to be used towards later memorial designations. Those wishing to mail their memorial may direct it to: Carla James Memorial c/o Sharp Funeral Home, 226 W. 8th Street, Carroll, IA 51401.
Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sharp Funeral Home in Carroll, and online condolences may be left for Carla’s family at www.sharpfuneral.com.
Carla Jo, the daughter of Charles and Cleo (Dirkx) Wiskus was born January 11, 1963 at St. Anthony Hospital in Carroll, Iowa. Carla lived on her parent’s farm Southeast of Dedham until 1973 then moved with her family to a farm Northeast of Exira. Carla graduated from Exira High School in 1981. She then graduated from DMACC and Iowa Western Community Colleges where she majored in special needs children and sign language. Her career included over 25 years of special education and sign language at Humboldt, Carroll, and Glidden Community School Districts. She spent her entire life working with children with special needs of some degree. She had a big heart and always loved each child she helped.
She married David James on September 27, 1991. To this union two children were born: Christopher and Danika Jo. She loved watching her son in his sporting activities, She was proud of every one of his accomplishments. She loved her sports, especially football, following the Carroll Tigers, Iowa Hawkeyes, The Dallas Cowboys, and the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Carla also loved her family and friends. She loved her nieces and nephews like her own, always to spoil them with her exceptional baked goods. (The favorite was always her chocolate chip cookies) She always was there to lend a helping hand, never to ask for anything in return. Carla was a member of St. John Paul II Parish- Holy Spirit in Carroll.
Carla is survived by her husband David James of Glidden; their son: Christopher James of Ames; her mother Cleo Wiskus of Exira; siblings: Crista Wiskus of Atlantic, Cindy Cleaver and her husband Mike of Waukee, and Carrie Tate and her husband Jeremy of Beatrice, Nebraska; sisters-in-law: Leanne Wiskus of Exira; Cathy James of Omaha; brothers-in-law: Robbie James of Omaha, Allen James of Council Bluffs; and father-in-law: Robert James of Fontanelle; as well as many nieces, nephews, and other extended relatives.
Preceding her in heavenly life is her daughter Danika James; her father Charles Wiskus; brothers, Christopher Wiskus and Craig Wiskus; her mother-in-law: Benna James; and a nephew: Matthew Sunberg.
