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James C. 'Jim' Searls
JAMES C. "JIM" SEARLS
Iowa City
James C. "Jim" Searls, 92, of Iowa City, died Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018, at his home.
Graveside services with military rites will begin Friday at 11 a.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Iowa City.
In lieu of flowers and plants, memorials may be directed to the American Heart Association or the Stead Family Children's Hospital. Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service in Iowa City is handling arrangements.
Born Aug. 22, 1926, in Mitchell, S.D., the son of Cluett "C.C." and Leona (Collier) Searls, Jim grew up in Postville, Iowa, graduating from Postville High School. After high school, he worked for the Milwaukee Railroad before entering the U.S. Army, serving as a sergeant in the Western Pacific Command during World War II on Okinawa. Following his discharge from the military, Jim married his longtime sweetheart, Mary Eberling, on Dec. 21, 1947, in Evanston, Ill.
Jim later received his B.S. degree from Cornell College, where he was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa Society. After his graduation from Cornell in 1950, he attended the University of Iowa, where he received his D.D.S. He then moved his young family to Grinnell, Iowa, where he practiced dentistry for the next seven years. In 1962, he returned to Iowa City, where he received his Ph.D. in anatomy from the University of Iowa and joined the faculties in the colleges of dentistry and medicine.
Jim is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Mary; children, Trish Campanelli (Joe) of Iowa City, Jim Searls (Carol) of Iowa City, Tom Searls (Dan Mears) of Iowa City and Bill Searls of Coralville; grandchildren, Chad Campanelli (Donna), Gina Skubanelli, Joey Campanelli (Konetta), Courtney Nelson (Todd), Jackie Searls, Kimberly Bales (Danny), James "Butch" Searls, Jesse Searls (Jessica), Kari Searls and Sam Searls; and great-grandchildren, Isabelle, Rae, Collier, Harrison, Haleigh, Gavin, Camden, Lyla, Burton, Blakely and Holland.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Joan Irwin; and a brother, Richard "Spike" Searls.
www.lensingfuneral.com
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