James “Jim” Spielbauer, 84, of Iowa City, formerly of Riverside, passed away October 13, 2026.
James Leonard Spielbauer was born on July 15, 1942, in Guttenberg, Iowa, to George and Frances Rohner Spielbauer. Jim graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Guttenberg in 1960 as the valedictorian of his class.
He attended Loras College and the University of Iowa, where he met his wife, Dorcas “Dori” Post. They married on November 5, 1966, and, as a young couple, traveled across the United States and Mexico. Throughout their travels, Jim wrote and recorded his observations before returning to Iowa in 1972. There, Jim worked in construction and established himself as a highly skilled and sought-after concrete finisher.
Jim possessed an inquisitive nature, a creative soul, and a keen intellect. He expressed his artistry through woodworking and pottery. He was an insatiable reader who was rarely seen without a book in hand. A conversation with Jim was always enriching, as he had a historical fact, literary reference, or joke at the ready to make you think, learn, and laugh.
Jim constantly inspired, encouraged, and supported fellow artists, co-workers, friends, and family. He was incredibly generous with his time and skills, offering his talents to help those in need in immeasurable ways.
In 2026, one of Jim’s novels, How We Failed to Achieve Socialism—an insightful and funny memoir of culture shock and choosing family stability over a hippie artists’ commune—was published and has been well received.
James is survived by his beloved wife, Dorcas; his children, Sara, Dan, Helen, Tom, George, and Mike; his grandchildren, Joseph, Stephen, Eleanor, and Matthew; and his siblings, Cecilia and Tom. He was preceded in death by his parents, George and Frances Spielbauer, and eleven of his siblings: Kathleen, Joseph, Rosalie, Arnold, Helen, Frank, Hildegarde, Lawrence, John, Dan, and David.
A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, October 25, 2026, at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service, 2720 Muscatine Ave, Iowa City, IA 52240. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM, followed by a time for sharing memories of Jim at 3:00 PM. To share a thought, memory or condolence please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service at www.gayandciha.com.
