Panther, James Adrian

James Adrian Panther, 68, died peacefully in his sleep on Aug. 24, 2012, at his home in Malanda, Queensland, Australia. Services were held Sept. 3 in Atherton, Australia. A memorial mass will be celebrated at the 5:15 p.m. mass on Friday Sept. 7, 2012, by Father Edward Fitzpatrick at the Newman Center in Iowa City.

Jim was born Feb. 29, 1944, to Adrian and Margaret Freeman Panther at Mercy Hospital in Iowa City. He attended St. Mary's Elementary School and graduated from Regina High School in 1962. He served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam and met his future wife on R&R in Sydney, Australia in late 1968. They conducted a long distance romance and married at St. Mary's Church in Iowa City on July 4, 1970.

After Jim was discharged, they returned to Iowa and settled in Cedar Rapids. In 1975, the couple moved to Sydney where Jim worked for Grace Bros Department Store before forming his own furniture delivery business. In February 2001, they moved to Malanda where they operated the Honeyflow Homestead Bed and Breakfast, until retirement in 2005.

Jim & Carmel visited Iowa City in June of this year to celebrate his 50th high school reunion. On this trip Jim was able to visit his brother and sister-in-law, his nephew and niece, grandnephews and nieces as well as many cousins and close friends.

Jim is survived by his wife, Carmel of Malanda; and his brother, Robert (Sherrie) of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a nephew.

Published in The Gazette Sept. 5, 2012.