The Ones We Hold Dear

  Fairfield, Iowa, Kenya
Monday, March 12, 2007

This entry is not about a new travel adventure I have had or an exciting place I have been to.  It is instead a small tribute to the memory of my grandfather, Walter Adam, who recently passed away.  I only knew him in the later years of his life and then only from the occasional visits my family and I made to visit him in Iowa or the trips he and my grandmother made to Kirksville to see us.  I regret that I never had the chance to know more about the history of his life and have often unappreciated influence he had on my life.  What I do know about him was that he was a man of character who lived by his word and always took care of his family.  Without him I would not be where I am today, in fact, not here at all.  I will miss you grandpa!






Obituaries Walter N. Adam
(May 15, 1919 - February 26, 2007)

The important lessons we learned as he led us by example; a strong father that taught us hard work and perseverance, his silent though obvious pride in all of us, his courage and bravery in good times and in bad ~ for these things, we love him and thank him.


Walter N. Adam, 87, husband, father, grandpa, formerly of rural Batavia and currently of Fairfield, died February 26, 2007 at Jefferson County Hospital in the presence of 12 of his children and his devoted wife, Mary Catherine Pacha Adam, who loved and cared for him for 62 years (married February 6, 1945)
Born on May 15, 1919 in Keokuk County to William and Christina (Greiner) Adam, he was the oldest son in a family of 11. He served his country in the United States Army during World War II in the South Pacific from 1942-1945. Returning home to rural Richland, he began a career in farming. He later moved to rural Batavia where he and Mary Catherine farmed and raised their family of 13 children. Moving to Fairfield in 1974, Walter spent the next 25 years in retirement.


He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, a member of the Knights of Columbus and a past member of Batavia Lions. Perhaps he will be remembered most by all for his feisty card playing skills and his boastful attitude when he won! The stories he shared about his war experiences and growing up will be the most endearing memories for his children and grandchildren.


Surviving are eight daughters and four sons: Maxine (Dale) Martin of Kirksville, MO, Janice (Steve) Durflinger, Nick (Tena) Adam, Cindy (Martin) Rupe, all of Batavia, IA, Carol (Steve) Murphy of Iowa City, IA, Fred (Christy) Adam of St. Louis, MO, Ed (Christina) Adam of Flat Rock, NC, Mary Ann (Joe) Ledger, Jane (Ernie) Ragen, Tom (Marni) Adam, all of Fairfield, IA, Colleen (Nick) Biggs of Ottumwa, IA, and Barbara Adam of Keosauqua, IA; 31 grandchildren, and 11 great grandchildren.
Survivors include brothers Richard and Ronald Adam of Fairfield, IA, and sisters Eleanor Sobaski and Isabelle Leppert of Richland, Jeanette French of Rockford, IL, and Francine Freeman of Tiffin, IA.


He was preceded in death by one son, Steven, his parents, brothers Omer and Donald, and sisters Lucille Adrian and Marian Hammes