James Portwood

James Portwood, 63, of Creston died Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2020, at his home in Creston. A family Celebration of Life gathering will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday Oct. 8, 2020, at Trinity Lutheran Church Fellowship Hall. Social distancing will be observed. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to the family for a unique memorial. Online condolences can be given at www.powersfh.com.

James Matthew Portwood, son of Leslie Gerald Portwood and Mary Patricia (Schneider) Portwood, was born July 22, 1957, in Clear Lake. He graduated from Boone High School in 1976.

James was united in marriage to Neeta Louann Craven in Boone. They settled in Boone where James worked at the Fareway Warehouse and coached boys’ basketball for several years for Boone and United Community Schools. He also ran his own roofing company for several years and later worked at the Imperial lanes in Boone. James and Neeta later divorced.

In 1990, James moved to Creston, where he worked in Mount Ayr for a short time before starting at Ferrara Candy Factory (gummy bear) in 1994 as a production supervisor.

On Aug. 18, 1998, James was united in marriage to Kathleen Janell Cottrell in Creston. For a short time, James went to work for Cardinal Glass before returning to work at the Ferrara candy factory (gummy bear factory) until it closed in 2017.

James was a member of the BCTGM Union local No. 218 where he served as chief steward. James loved being outside, particularly around a campfire and was an active Pittsburgh Steelers fan.

Survivors include his wife, Kathy Portwood of Creston; a son, Clayton Portwood of Mitchellville; two daughters, Amanda Portwood-Thielen of Boone and Reahna Portwood (Marcus Boyce) of Creston; three brothers, Mike Portwood of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Phil Portwood of Neligh, Nebraska and Joe (Joann) Portwood of Harlan; two sisters, Janann (Steve) Beaubien of Sioux Fall, South Dakota and Eileen Johnson of Boone; four grandchildren, Summer Thielen, Autumn Thielen, Jasa Thielen and Skylar Boyce.

James was preceded in death by his parents, sister-in-law Brenda Portwood and brother-in-law Tim Johnson.