James 'Jim' West

JAMES "JIM" LEE WEST

Mesa, Ariz.

James "Jim" Lee West, 70, of Mesa, Ariz., passed away Sunday, June 25, 2017, at home surrounded by his loving family. A visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, June 30, in the Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories Stateroom. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 1, at Cedar Memorial Chapel of Memories. The Rev. Elizabeth Hilkerbaumer of First Presbyterian Church of Marion will officiate. Entombment will be held following the service at Cedar Memorial.

James was born Aug. 8, 1946, in Ottumwa, Iowa, to John Curtis and Cora (Florence) West. He later attended Indian Hills Community College and Coe College in Cedar Rapids. Jim married Joan Klekacz on July 14, 1967. They later divorced. He married Marjean (Graf) Zalesky on Aug. 5, 2000.

Jim joined the staff of Peoples Bank, Cedar Rapids, on Feb. 28, 1973. He was employed by them and their successors, Norwest Bank and Wells Fargo Bank until retiring on May 12, 2006, after 36 years. In 1995, Jim moved to the Quad Cities, where he became vice president of personal banking. In 2002, he moved to Lake Havasu City, Ariz., where he became president of the River Cities Region of Wells Fargo Bank, serving 10 area banks. While in Iowa, he was a Boy Scout leader and served on the Cedar Rapids Symphony board. Jim served as president of the Eastern Iowa Chapter of the American Institute of Banking, chairman for the State of Iowa, and then Area 5 director on the National Board of Directors, as well as president of the Linn County Bankers Association, and was a member of the American Bankers Association Advisory Council. Wherever he lived, Jim served many capacities for the United Way, Junior Achievement, Chamber of Commerce and on the boards of the banks where he worked.

Jim received a Presidential citation from President George H.W. Bush for his volunteer work. Jim and his wife, Marj, were active members of Love of Christ Lutheran Church in Mesa and enjoyed serving as Mr. and Mrs. Santa Claus each year for the preschool. They were also members of Cactus Ramblers Camping Club, Wine-A-Bit and traveled extensively in their motor home.

Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, brother and friend. He will be missed deeply by everyone who knew and loved him.

Jim is survived by his wife, Marjean of Mesa; son, Dale of Cedar Rapids; three daughters, Connie Earl of Mesa, Kathryn West of Charlotte, N.C., and Julia (Ron) Hendred of Marion; stepson, Mark (Christina) Zalesky of Knoxville, Tenn.; and stepdaughter, Renee Zalesky (Erich Gottschalk) of North Smithfield, R.I. Jim is also survived by 18 grandchildren, Dawn (Ryan) Long, Sunshine Steger, Joshua (Kristie) Steger, Chase Gift, Cord (Kelly), Gage and Taylor West, Ieshia, Breiana and Mahlia Brown, Madison and Lauren Taylor, Shannon (Garrett) Davis, Kylie Earl, John Zalesky, Caelyn Gottschalk and Cairron and Calaisha Hendred; and great-grandchildren, Jaxson and Carson Long, Kiana Shannon, Hailey and Callie Gift, Braeden Marsh and Rylee West. He is also survived by his brother, Ron West of San Antonio, Texas.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; brother, John West; and sister, Doloris Davidson.

Memorial contributions may be given to the American Heart Association, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society or Love of Christ Lutheran Church of Mesa.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Mesa.

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