Obituaries : Jim Christy

Jim Christy

James "Jim" Raymond Christy, 81, formerly of Vinton and later Nevada, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Bethany Manor in Story City, Iowa.

Visitation with the Christy family will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Friday, April 8, 2011 at the Memorial Lutheran Church, 701 11th Street, Nevada, Iowa. A memorial service with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating will begin at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the church. A private family committal service will be held at the Roland, Iowa cemetery at a later date.

Jim was born on March 4, 1930, to Glenn and Anabel (Raymond) Christy in Vinton, Iowa. He attended country schools in Benton County and graduated from Vinton High School in 1947. Jim earned two degrees from Iowa State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy in 1951 and a Master of Science degree in vocational agriculture in 1966. In 1951, Jim began his employment with the Iowa State University Extension Service, first as a County 4-H Youth Assistant, then as the Story County Extension Director. Jim was a private in the United States Army from 1951 to 1953, stationed in Salzburg, Austria, after the Korean War Conflict. He was married to Dorothy Olson at Salem Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa on November 19, 1955. They made their home with their two children in Nevada, IA. Jim and Dorothy were very active in the Nevada schools, the Memorial Lutheran Church, the Nevada Parks and Recreation Department and Story County 4-H. Jim especially enjoyed all Nevada Cub athletics, Luther baseball, and ISU basketball and football, extended family gatherings and annual Vinton class reunions.

Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 55 years, Dorothy; one daughter Julie (Jerry) Bisher of Tama; one son, Jon (Janeen) Christy of Decorah; sister Naomi (George) McClurg of Spearfish SD, Brother-in-law James (Irene Winters) Olson of Boone; sister-in-law Leta Mae Christy of Vinton; four step-grandchildren Christian (Amy) Bisher, Cody (Tori Dunham) Bisher, Casey Bisher, and Corey Bisher; two step great-grandchildren Brynn and Dylan Bisher, four nieces and one nephew. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Richard, of Vinton. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to be directed to Memorial Lutheran Church, Bethany Life Foundation Chaplaincy Fund, or the Story County 4H Foundation in Jim's name. Chet Ryan Mortuary in Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Jim and his family. Online condolences may be left at www.chetryanmortuary.com