Obituaries : James “Jim” Stueck

James "Jim" Stueck, 84, passed away peacefully Wednesday, December 18, 2024, at Virginia Gay Nursing & Rehab, Vinton. Private family services will be held. Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home is caring for Jim and his family.

Jim was born on June 25, 1940 in Vinton, the son of Gilbert and Virginia (Ervin) Stueck. He began his education in a one-room schoolhouse near his home in Eden Township (Benton County)and was taught by his aunt, Clara. Jim graduated from Washington High School (Vinton) in 1958. Throughout his schooling Jim developed a love for agriculture, participating in Future Farmers of America and helping out around the family farm.

On March 2, 1963, Jim was united in marriage to Sharon Offt in Vinton. Shortly thereafter, Jim and Sharon moved out to the country to start their family. Jim rented a plot of land to farm while Sharon took care of their newborn daughter, Renee. After the birth of their daughters, Rachelle and Angela, Jim bought and ran the Livestock Station in Mt. Auburn.

Hard times fell on the Stueck family as the 1980s Farming Crisis bankrupted farms across the country. Jim and Sharon quickly adapted, however, with Jim driving truck for Westside Transport. Jim went on to drive for Archer Daniels Midland (ADM) as an owner-operator and proudly bought his signature purple semi sometime thereafter. With the callsign "Stickman," Jim drove for ADM until his retirement at the age of 69. Jim never knew a stranger from his time as a truck driver. He could walk into just about any bar, restaurant, or store and find someone he knew from his time driving across the Midwest.

Jim was incredibly interested in the world around him and spent most of his leisure time catching up on world events. Most days after his retirement he could be found sitting in his chair reading the local newspaper while simultaneously flipping between news and sports channels. Jim could (and did) give an informed opinion for just about anything, from pop culture and sports (he was certainly a fan of Jason Kelce and Taylor Swift's romance) to minute details of local, state, and national politics and beyond.

Family was important to Jim. Before the passing of his brother, Bob, the two would make annual fishing trips to Baudette, MN with their wives Sharon and Nancy, respectively. Jim was a regular attendee of his daughters' sporting events and, even when he was unable to walk later in life, would watch his grandkids play sports from his pickup truck. He had a special place in his heart for his grandson, Shawn, who he helped raise and would privately (but proudly) declare was like his first son. Jim also loved dogs and spent much of his retirement with his"granddog," a Chow-Chow named Buster, by his side.

Always the life of the party, Jim's burlesque sense of humor,mischievous smile, and infectious laugh lit up every room he was in. Even in the latter five years of his life, which was spent at Virginia Gay Nursing and Rehab in Vinton, Jim laughed with and loved the people around him. Declaring his caretakers as "his girls" and "his guys" and his caretakers lovingly referring to him as "Stewie," Jim's life at the nursing home was filled not only with compassionate care, but also the laughs and witty back-and-forth conversation that he enjoyed so much throughout his younger years. Jim will be missed by many, including his loving grandson, Cole, who was graciously given the honor of writing this obituary.

Left to cherish Jim's memory are his wife of 61 years, Sharon of Vinton; daughters: Rachelle (Steve) Berry, and Angie (Scott) Tharp, all of Vinton; five grandchildren: Shawn (Shaina) Young of Cedar Rapids, Stephanie Berry of Des Moines, Taylor (Gabriel) Schmidt of Vinton, Cole (Hannah Burkhart) Tharp of San Francisco, CA, and Chloe (Noah Kremer) Tharp of Ames; five great-grandchildren: Ava, Landon, Mya, Alea, and LaylaYoung; and sister-in-law, Nancy Stueck of Chicago, IL.

He was preceded in death by his daughter, Renee Young; brother, Robert "Bob" Stueck; sister, Betty Wilson; brother-in law and sister-in-law, Ron and Kathleen Offt.

A memorial fund has been established. Contributions can be sent to Van Steenhuyse-Teahen Funeral Home in Vinton, IA.

Condolences for the family may be left at www.teahenfuneralhome.com.