James A Harper

James A. Harper, 90, of Friendship Manor, Rock Island, IL, passed away at Silver Cross Nursing Center on Wednesday, February 27, 2008. Wendt Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. A private family service will be conducted at a later date at which time his remains will be returned to Mother Nature. Memorials can be made in his memory to the Moline Foundation, the memorial fund at Friendship Manor, or a charity of choice. He was born on June 28, 1917, in Moline, IL, the son of J. Frank and Lucy Ainsworth Harper. He married Mary Alice McAndrew on June 25th, 1944 in Ypsilanti, MI. He was a graduate of the University of Michigan, and of that school's Law School, after which he volunteered and served four and a half years in the U.S. Army. His last aarmy assignment was as Military Government Mayor of Chun Chon, Korea, following V.J. Day. After returning from service, he became associated with the law firm of Sollo, Graham, and Califf in Moline, and subsequently became a partner of that firm. Mr. Harper retired from the active practice of law in 1995, and has been "Of Counsel" to the firm of Califf and Harper, P.C. since that time. Mr. Harper became a 50 year member of the Illinois Bar Association in 1992. He was a member and past President of the Rock Island County Bar Association. He served for many years on a Hearing Board of the Illinois Bar Association Disciplinary Commission. For 18 years, he was a Commissioner on the Board of the Moline Housing Authority. He was the first President of the Moline Washington School Dad's Club, and had served on the Board of Trustees of the Moline Y.M.C.A., and of the Moline Community Chest. Mr. Harper was a member of First Congregational Church of Moline, and had served on it's Council and Board of Trustees. He was a 62-year member and Past President of the Moline Rotary Club, and was a member of Moline Elks Lodge, the American Legion, Kiwanis Club, and the Rock Island Arsenal Golf Club. Having been preceded in death by his child bride, Mary, and his sister, Emily Manis, he is survived by son James F. Harper and partner Michelle Pauly of Medford, OR; daughter, Susan Armour of Centennial, CO; son Thomas A. Harper of Moline; a foreign exchange son and his wife Georg A. and Margret Lang of Switzerland; four grandchildren; sister Barbara Thompson of Tucson, AZ; and a number of nieces and nephews.