Imm, Rudolph Frank - Mass of Christian Burial for Dr. Rudy Imm, age 67, of Lenox who passed away on Monday, October 15, 2007, at Creighton Medical Center in Omaha, Nebraska due to complications from treatment for stomach cancer. Services were held Thursday, October 25, 2007, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Lenox. Cremation followed the services with private family interment of ashes held at the graveside at Resurrection Cemetery in Lenexa, Kansas.

Rudolph Frank Imm was born September 26, 1940, in Denver, Colorado the son of Rudolph and Irma (Dagon) Imm. Rudy and his brother Nick grew up in Littleton, Colorado. He worked his way through school as a grocer, truck driver and bartender. He graduated from Regis College in Denver and then attended dental school at Creighton University in Omaha, where he graduated in 1967. He married Mary Lucile Doll on June 10, 1967, in Kansas City and they settled in Lenox. Rudy and Mary Lu were blessed with three children: Chris, Shannon and Andy. He cherished vacation times with his family. Rudy actively developed hobbies and interests with his children and friends. He supported and nurtured passions for collecting, trading, sports, clubs, nature, animals, the arts, academics and recreational events. From being a scout leader to a musician, he loved to relate to others through their lighter side.

Dr. Imm practiced dentistry in Lenox for forty years. He took great pride in the beautiful smiles he gave his patients. He loved dentistry . . . and his patients were also his dear friends. Rudy served as President of the Southwest District in 1974, and was President of the Iowa Dental Association in 1987. He was a member of the American College of Dentists, the International College of Dentists, and the Pierre Fauchard Academy, which acknowledged him as it Iowa Dentist of the Year in 2003. He was an adjunct professor of the University of Iowa Preceptor Program. During the annual meeting of the Iowa Dental Association in 2006, he was a Guest of Honor.

Rudy served his community through membership in the Rotary Club where he was a Paul Harris Fellow and song leader. He was also a member of the School Board and the Lenox Development Corporation. He was an active member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Parish, serving as a lector. He loved flying, earning his pilot’s license and becoming a member of the Flying Dentists Association. While circling around the heartland, he discovered new farming techniques. Rudy enjoyed travel, especially to his vacation home in Hilton Head where he would dance with the dolphins. He looked forward to his annual Canadian fishing expedition. He shared Italy with

his finer side as well as a special trip to Australia and New Zealand. Rudy loved tomatoes, Iowa corn, Colorado peaches and spaghetti. Rudy enjoyed cars and motorcycles and was especially proud of his red Corvette! Gardening, cooking, hunting, bowling, bridge and skiing were major interests as well.

Left to cherish Rudy’s memory are his wife Mary Lu of Lenox; their three children, Shannon Imm of Sarasota, Florida; Andy Imm of Atlanta, Georgia; and Chris Imm and wife Melissa and their two children, Annalise and Greyson of Prairie Village, Kansas; and a brother Nick Imm of Glendale, Arizona.

Preceding Rudy in death were his parents, Rudolph and Irma Imm; Mary Lu’s parents, Ray and Mary Clare Doll; nieces, Lydia and Clare True.

Rudy was an inspiration to anyone that knew him.
He was always an optimist and cheerful during the five years of his illness.
He fought strong until the very end showing his true love of life.

He will be missed by all of his extended family
and friends who were dear to his heart.

Arrangements were entrusted to the Ritchie Funeral Home of Lenox.

Irvin, James Robert - Funeral services for James Robert Irvin, 74, of Bedford, who died Saturday, June 30, 2007 in St. Joseph, Missouri, were held Tuesday, July 3, 2007 at 10:30 am at the Ritchie Funeral Home in Bedford. Military rites, performed by the John F. Hardin American Legion Post 164, were held at the conclusion of the service. Cremation followed the services with a private family interment at Fairvew Cemetery on July 5th. Jim’s son Greg was honored to craft the wooden urn for Jim. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Taylor County Historical Museum. Memories can be shared with the family on our website at www.ritchiefuneralhome.com, under obituary.

James Robert Irvin was the 7th of 8 children, born on December 19, 1932 in rural Coin, IA. His parents were Robert A. and Edna M. (Vawter) Irvin. He grew up and attended country school in the rural areas of Coin, Bedford and Conway before his family moved to Oak Lawn Farm west of Platteville in 1943. With five older sisters in the home, there was no shortage of people telling him what to do. He developed a sense of orneriness to cope, which included chasing at least one sister around the house with a skunk.

Nicknamed “Jim Bob” by his brother and sisters, his curiosity and inquisitiveness were always present growing up. Whenever his dad would bring home something new mechanically, he would tear it apart to see how it worked and then put it back together again. He kept this characteristic his whole life, being able to dismantle a tractor into hundreds of parts and then reassemble it correctly, rarely looking at a manual.

Jim and his father purchased a 1928 Ford Model A Coupe before his freshman year of high school. He obtained his school permit and drove this car back and forth from the family farm near Platteville to Bedford until he graduated in 1950. During his high school years he was involved in football, basketball, yearbook committee, FFA and other organizations. After his graduation he attended CE School of Commerce in Omaha, Nebraska.

Following in the footsteps of his older brother, Leonard, Jim enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in September 1951. He went to boot camp at San Diego, CA, attended schooling at Jacksonville, FL and was first stationed in El Toro, CA. Jim served his country during the Korean War as an ordnance man with the First Marine Aircraft Wing. He had achieved the rank of Sergeant when he was honorably discharged in September 1954. Jim received the Korean Service Medal with 3 Stars; the United Nations Service Medal; the Good Conduct Medal; the National Defense Service Medal; and the Korean Presidential Unit Citation.

Upon his return to Iowa, he enrolled at America Technical School in Des Moines, completing training as a Radio Laboratory Technician. While working at a gas station in Des Moines, a customer came in with a Ford Model A that was not running properly and was frustrated and looking to sell the vehicle. Jim thought he knew what was wrong with the car, knew how to fix it, and bought it for $25. He fixed it for nearly nothing and sold it for $75. Over the years he wished he had not sold the car but said the $50 he made was a lot of money at that time.

One philosophy of Jim’s was if you thought you needed to buy something, wait two weeks to think about it, and if after two weeks you thought you still needed it, then you probably did. Another lesson was that if you ever needed to borrow something you had better return it in the same or better condition. He was always fixing something of his own with baling wire and “vise-grips”, always getting something to work that maybe should not have. However, if Jim did build something new, it was usually built overboard. “If it was worth doing, do it right”. Jim would attend coffee in town bringing with him his sense of humor and wit, always having his opinion about local or worldly news.

On June 3, 1956, Jim was united in marriage to Mary Anne Sharp, daughter of Ernest and Chloris (Matheny) Sharp of Bedford. Jim and Mary Anne built their lives together in the Bedford area along with their three children, Linda, Mike and Greg. The family resided in the house that Jim designed and built. After over 30 years of marriage, Mary Anne passed away in 1986.

In addition to farming northeast of Bedford, he owned and operated a portable feed grinding operation along with a custom haying business that served local farmers. In the late ‘70s, he and Mary Anne bought and managed the Mobil Service Station. He continued the custom haying business until his health forced him into retirement.

In 1994 Jim became reacquainted with June (Penton) Leighton with whom he had graduated high school in 1950. At this time June’s old feelings from high school resurfaced. Both had previously lost spouses and found they had many similar interests. On August 29, 1997, Jim and June were married at the Taylor County Museum Chapel. Jim’s family was now extended to include June’s siblings, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. June’s presence brought happiness and warmth to Jim’s life.

On many nights and weekends Jim and June could be found sitting in the bleachers watching their grandchildren participate in their many events. He was very involved in his grandchildren’s lives and supported them in their activities. Jim’s sense of challenge and humor has been observed by more than one person to have been passed on to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, June; their children Linda (Allen) Steeve of Shawnee, Kansas; Mike (Chris) Irvin of Bedford; Greg (Jo) Irvin of Bedford; Karen (Denny) Williams of Shambaugh; Sherry (Larry) Sticken of Ravenwood, Missouri; June Ellen (Joel) Thomason of Des Moines; Debbie (Keith) Bates of Greenfield; Rich Leighton of St. Louis, Missouri; grandchildren Kerri (Mike) Ketcham, Jamie Steeve; Brandi (Adam) Cole, Michael (Janel) Irvin, Jennifer Irvin (Adam Bruck), Jessica Irvin (Trevor Fletcher); Cody Irvin (Jessica Loudon), Lyndsay Irvin, Jeremy (Traci) Fisher, Brandy Jo (Stacy) Feldman; Sean Hargis; Lynett Huber, Courtney (Colin) Kenard, Carlton Huber; Tony Leighton; Lisa (Steve) Johnson, Amy Davidson, Peter Davidson; 21 great-grandchildren; sisters Dorothy Meyers, Helen Irvin, Velma (Harold) Shepherd, Jackie (Jim) Jacobs, brothers-in-law Harold Gilbert, Glen (Mary Lee) Sharp, sisters-in-law Rachel (Gail) Fitzhugh, and Dorothy (McCurdy) Burgett; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives and a community of friends.

Preceding him in death were wife Mary Anne Irvin; parents Robert A. and Edna Irvin; great-grandson Hunter Cole; siblings Lois Williams, Leonard Irvin and Annalea Gilbert.

May God grant comfort and strength to those who mourn Jim's passing.