James Pope

Post Hole Digger James Pope

This true story is dedicated to all the children that are called upon to shoulder family responsibilities. The hardships of a struggling farm family; Post Hole Digger follows the life of Iowa farm boy James Pope from first memory to age 19. At age 15 I held my father, trying to get a nitroglycerin tablet under his tongue. Father died in my arms. I took his job as janitor of the Macedonia, Iowa Consolidated School, supporting mom and little sister Mary. At age 16 I took a job as a hired man on the John and Vonda Koch's farm at Neola, Iowa. As you read, follow Jim's life and at age 19 as he creates a solid plan for life.



Born March 25, 1937 at home on the family farm. Attended a one room country school New Boston #5 for two years. At age 15, father died in my arms. I took his job as janitor of the Macedonia, Iowa Consolidated School, supporting my mom and little sister Mary. At age 16 I took the job as hired man on John and Vonda Koch's farm at Neola, Iowa. After high school I joined the Navy and spent 27 years in the submarine service. After I retired I took the job as supervisor of the computerized maintenance department of a utility company. After working all most all of my productive life, at age 60 I just stopped going to work. I have a wonderful partner. We have lived together for 33 years traveling the world extensively. I don't know if I am a writer of just a story teller that can uniquely connect the dots.