James Harold Simon

JAMES HAROLD SIMON

Des Moines

James Harold Simon, 74, died Friday, Dec. 10, 2021, at his home in Des Moines Iowa. A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Monday, Dec. 20, at the Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery, with inurnment immediately following.

Jim was born March 18, 1947, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the son of Harold and Mona Simon. He graduated from Jefferson High School in 1965. He married his first wife, Nancy Simon in 1969, and they had a son Tim in 1975. They divorced in 1998, and he went on to marry his second wife, Kathleen Simon in 2002. They lived in Cedar Rapids, and then later moved to Des Moines.

He was born with an eye disorder which progressively got worse throughout his life, rendering him blind and unable to work. He was very strong-willed and refused to let this impediment prevent him from enjoying life. He was an avid listener of music, and he refused to let his eyesight stop him from walking around the neighborhood or keeping up with current events.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and his wife, Kathy, who had passed on only three weeks prior.

He is survived by his son, Tim of McKinney, Texas; three stepchildren, Ellen Borst of Maize, Kan., Benjamin Roling of Kearney, Mo., and Emily Zingale of Urbandale, Iowa; and his seven stepgrandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Jim's name to the Iowa Department for the Blind or American Parkinson Disease Association, Iowa Chapter.

Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.cedarmemorial.com under obituaries.