Wilkin, James C. 'Jim'

James C. “Jim” Wilkin, 77, died on the morning of Sept. 1, 2013, in the peaceful surroundings of Honey Creek Cottage in Swisher.

Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Morgan Funeral Choices Mount Vernon, Iowa, with the Rev. Kirk Statler and the Rev. Dick Ernst officiating. Following services a home lunch buffet by Gwen's will be served at the funeral home. Burial will be at Linwood Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, where he will join his first wife. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 6, at the funeral home in Mount Vernon.

Jim was born Sept. 4, 1935, in Cedar Rapids. He grew up on the family farm that is the present location of Kirkwood Community College, then farmed and milked cows with his dad around Kirkwood. Jim married Dorothy Ann Terpkosh on June 4, 1955. They farmed in Cedar Rapids for a short time, then established a farmstead in Mount Vernon. Jim established Wilkin Elevator in Lisbon, later expanding to Lowden and Tipton. Jim was a true farmer at heart, always willing to help out others in need. Because of this he was a founding member and active volunteer for the Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance and became an emergency medical technician. He was part of the board at Myers Meadow in Lisbon. He was an active leader and volunteer for 4-H. He was president of the Cedar Rapids Horseman's Club for several years. Jim was also involved with Linn County Pork Producers and Linn County Sheep Producers. He was a long time member of the farm bureau. Jim, in his spare time, decided to also become an auctioneer. Jim remained a true farmer, keeping cows until his early 70s. After “retiring,” he remained an animal lover with his dog, “Foxy” as his special companion. He enjoyed fishing, often going to Canada every year. Playing cards and eating with family brought great enjoyment. Jim was not only a community leader, but he had a big heart and was generous. He was a patient and loving person who had a deep love and understanding for human life. He took care of Dorothy and helped nurture and support her through declining health never leaving her side. Following the death of his wife, he was married to Rosemarie Nurre, and later divorced. Jim was then united in marriage to Carolyn Goemaat and moved to Cedar Rapids and Marion area.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and the love of his life, his wife Dorothy in 1999.

Jim is survived by his two daughters, Christine (Kirk) Heisterkamp of Cedar Rapids and Kim (Scot) Korte of Mount Vernon. He is also survived by his three grandchildren who he adored, Wyatt Heisterkamp, Leuie Korte and Dorothy Korte; and two brothers, David (Judy) Wilkin of Cedar Rapids and Truman (Romaine) Wilkin of Marion. A very special friend to the whole Wilkin family, Margaret Probasco of Cedar Rapids, also survives.

While Jim was a very social person and dedicated leader in the community, his true passion was the private time he got to spend with his immediate family, traveling in the “Titanic” (Winnebago) with the horse trailer swinging on the back. Jim was an avid Hawkeye football and basketball fan.

In lieu of flowers and green plants, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to the Lisbon-Mount Vernon Ambulance or for a memorial to be named by the family.

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Published in The Gazette Sept. 4, 2013.