James 'Jim' Whetstine

JAMES “JIM" WHETSTINE

Iowa City

James "Jim" Whetstine, 79, of Iowa City, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2022, at The Bird House – Hospice Home of Johnson County surrounded by family. Memorial Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 18, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, Iowa City, with Father Joseph Sia officiating. Burial will follow at St. Joseph Cemetery, Iowa City. A gathering to celebrate James' life will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed toward The Bird House – Hospice Home of Johnson County or to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Jim was born Nov. 26, 1942, in Iowa City, Iowa, the son of Harold Lamonte and Shirley Marie (Roberts) Whetstine. Even as a young man, Jim loved photography. He was brash enough to take a young waitress' photo at Hamburg Inn No. 1 in 1965 and returned the next day to give her the photo and ask her out on a date. Jim married that young woman, Bev Lynch, on July 2, 1966, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Iowa City.

Jim lived and worked in the Iowa City area most of his life. He worked at the University of Iowa, the City of Coralville, Atrium Village and Mercy of Iowa City, from where he retired in 2005. Jim spent as much time as he could with family, whether it was watching the Hawkeyes, camping at Backbone State Park, playing backyard football or just having a cup of coffee. He loved to coach as well and spent many years coaching Little League baseball in Iowa City.

Jim was a genuine as they come and rarely met a stranger. It was not uncommon to travel and still run across people he knew. He loved people and enjoyed people of all walks of life. He welcomed people into his home with open arms and generated an inviting environment for his guest. Jim encapsulated what it meant to treat others how you want to be treated.

Jim is survived by his wife, Bev; sons, Chris (Karina) Whetstine of Mesa, Ariz., and Josh Whetstine of West Branch, Iowa; grandchildren, Krista (Joel) Ortega, Halle (James) Ziegler of Mesa, Ariz., Noah (Jill) of San Tan Valley, Ariz., and Anah Whetstine of Mesa, Ariz.; great-grandchildren, Jeniah, Joel Jr., James IV and Carsyn; and numerous extended family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Donna; daughter, Lori; and daughter-in-law, Becky.

Online condolences and memories may be shared at www.lensingfuneral.com.