Kirschbaum, James "Jim" LeRoy (1940-2019)

KIRSCHBAUM, GELNER, NELSON, KELLER, GARRISON, GRADOVILLE, NELSON, VAVRIK

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 12/27/2019 at 19:52:49

James "Jim" LeRoy Kirschbaum
June 15, 1940 - November 19, 2019

James (Jim) L. Kirschbaum, 79, of Crystal Lake, passed away on Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at the Select Specialty Hospital in Des Moines.

Jim was born in rural Garner to Raymond and Lucille (Gelner) Kirschbaum on June 15, 1940. He grew up on the family farm southeast of Crystal Lake and attended country school before enrolling at Crystal Lake High School. He graduated with the class of 1958. Then, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving on a Fleet Ocean Tug, which allowed him to see the world.

On November 1, 1963, he married the love of his life, Janice Nelson, in Forest City. Subsequently, to their union, three children were born: Steven, Sara, and Shari.

After his honorable discharge from Navy, Jim was employed by Forester Travel Trailers of Forest City and Sorenson Hardware in Crystal Lake. In 1964, Jim, along with his father, Raymond, and his brother, Robert, started K & K Service. Then, in 1974, Jim took over the business and changed the name to Jim’s Electric, Heating and Plumbing, which he operated until the time of his passing.

Jim forged a huge presence in the community in which he lived. He, proudly, served the City of Crystal Lake as a volunteer fireman for thirty-six years and several terms as a City Councilman. He, even, put in a brief stint as mayor before retiring. In addition, he belonged to the Crystal Lake American Legion Post 409 and the Crystal Lake Jaycees.

When not working or volunteering, Jim enjoyed his annual fishing trips to Canada, spending time with his family, and watching westerns.

Jim is survived by his wife of fifty-six years, Janice, of Crystal Lake; his three children: Steven Kirschbaum, of Crystal Lake, Sara (Jeremiah) Keller, of Earlham, and Shari Garrison, of Mason City; his three grandsons: Cooper and Conner Garrison and Ethan Keller; his sisters-in-law: Esther and Kathleen Kirschbaum, and Joyce Gradoville; his brother-in-law, Jerry (Miriam) Nelson; and his aunt, Marjorie Vavrik, along with several nieces, nephews, cousins, and his close family friends, Al and Fran Tvedt and Cheryl Carney.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers: Bob, Bill, and Les; his sister-in-law, Beverly Kirschbaum; and his father- and mother-in-law, LeRoy and Myrtle Nelson.

Celebration of Life services will be held on Saturday, December 7, 2019, from 3:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Crystal Lake Fire Station. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the James Kirschbaum memorial fund in care of the family.

Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City, Iowa, 2019.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen