"I would like to express my condolences to your family, it can be hard for friends and family to find the right words to express at difficult times like these. The Bible is a great source to look into and has helped me personally when My dad passed away. A comforting thought is at Revelation 21:3,4, where it states "...And he will wipe out every tear from their eyes, and death will be no more, neither will mourning nor outcry be anymore the former things have past away". This scripture gives us hope for the future! You can also find comfort in Acts 24:15 - Death does not end it all. May Jehovah God bring you comfort and peace during this difficult time. (Ps.46:1, Ps.83:18)"
In loving memory of
James Keith Ehresman
April 9, 1943 - November 8, 2014
James "Jim" K. Ehresman, 71, of Tipton, died Saturday, November 8, 2014, Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit, Iowa City. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 10:30 am, United Methodist Church, Tipton, with burial to follow in the Rochester Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. A memorial fund has been established in his memory. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com.
Jim was born to Mary Dolores (Hartley) Ehresman and Dale Ehresman on April 9, 1943 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1961, attended both the University of Iowa and UNI before joining the Iowa Highway Patrol in 1966. While on the Iowa State Patrol he lived in Oelwein, Mt. Pleasant, LeClaire and Altoona where he ended his 33 year career as a major at the headquarters in Des Moines. As he moved through the ranks he received recognition for the various technical accident investigation schools, hostage negotiation, tack team leader and attended the 168th session of the FBI National Academy Associates in Quantico, Virginia from January til March in 1992. In 2001 he and his wife Bev retired to their hometown of Tipton. There he enjoyed working with a local carpenter.
On June 5, 1964 Jim married his wife Beverly (Kohl) Ehresman and together they had three children. Jamey (Rick) Varney, Jody (Mark) Crooks, and Jeffrey (Jennifer) Ehresman. They have seven beloved grandchildren: Shelby, Gabriel and Jackson Varney, Andrew, Nathan and Daniel Crooks, and Jordyn Ehresman. Jim was a member of the United Methodist Church, belonged to the NE Iowa Peace Officers Association, the State Patrol Supervisors Association, the Board of Adjustments, Methodist Trustees committee and the Tipton Country Club. He enjoyed many activities including hunting, fishing, camping, boating, golfing, woodworking, gardening and especially family.
Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly, daughters Jamey (Rick) Varney of Decorah, Iowa, Jody (Mark) Crooks of West Burlington, Iowa, his son Jeffrey (Jennifer) Ehresman of Des Moines, Iowa, seven grandchildren, one brother Thomas (Mary) Ehresman of Tipton, Iowa, two sisters, Dalene McKinnon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Janice Hetherington of Des Moines, Iowa, plus many brothers and sisters-in-laws, nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, one sister Jean Britcher, brother-in-law, Vance McKinnon. Jim touched the lives of many people and will be greatly missed by family and many, many friends.
Tributes
"Dear Ehresman Family, I am so very sorry for your loss. Please accept my sincere condolences. May you find comfort in the warmth of family and friends, as well as in your loving memories. During times like these, I have personally found comfort in the promises made to us by our Heavenly Father. One is found at John 5:28,29 where he has promised to reunite us with our dead loved ones by means of a resurrection. The other is found at Revelation 21:4 where he promises to eliminate death and pain forever after he restores his original purpose to the earth in the very near future. I pray that these trustworthy promises found in God's word the Bible will bring you a measure of comfort during this most difficult time. My deepest sympathy to you."
"To the entire family of Jim Ehresman, we are so very sorry for your loss, our thoughts are with you. Gary and Linda Hein"
"As a young pup with Oelwein PD I remember Jim's stories of patrol, he always had a tale to tell. Very Good guy. "
"I began my career on Oelwein PD. Jim regaled us with his stories of the ways he talked large, angry truckers out of beating him to pulp. Hilarious and yet instructive. He was a great teacher and a real "gravel road trooper"."
"Bev, Jamey, Jody, and especially my good buddy, Jeff - my most sincere and deepest condolences on the passing of Jim. I can't begin to put into words how much he and your family meant to me during my childhood in Mt. Pleasant; I will always treasure my memories of hanging-out with Jeff at your house on Lincoln Street when we were kids. I remember when Jim came to our school to speak with us about law enforcement and what it was like to be an Iowa State Trooper, and how cool we all thought it was to see him in his uniform. He was always so kind and patient with everyone. He was definitely the kind of dad you wished you had, and the quality of man to which you aspired to be when you grew up. May God bless you, and bring your family together more, during this difficult time. Although we are separated by distance and time from those days in Mt. Pleasant, believe me when I say that you and your family have always had a special place in my heart. Lots of love, Travis"
"Bev and family: I have lost a good friend from 1969 on, when we served together with the ISP's "10th Legion" at Oelwein. We were shift partners for about 10 yrs. We were assigned to the Wadena Rock Fest and the nearly forgotten UI student riots in 1970-71-72. We patrolled the highways of District 10 together, we barbecued, and played a lot of tennis. He was a good man to go through a door with. He had a very successful career with the Patrol, and would have made a great Chief. 385 is on eternal patrol. He will be missed. J.D. Peppmeier X296 - ISP"
"Bev and Family -- you are in our thoughts and prayers. We really appreciated the opportunity to know Jim and you all when living in Mt. P. Rich and Liz Garrels"
"So sorry to hear of Jim's death. While at coffee this morning at HyVee I had a friend tell me he had read about Jim's passing in the Register Tuesday and asked if we were related. The quality I remember most about Jim was that great laugh, unique just as Uncle Dale's was! That and the genuine smile that always appeared contributed to the success that Jim had in life! Would have gotten to Tipton had I found out in time. Our sincere sympathy to the entire Ehresman family."
"I will always remember brother-in-laws Jim Ehresman and Mike Ryan trading mild insults aimed at each other in front of Grandpa and Grandma Kohl during family gatherings in the 1970's and then in later years in front of the rest of us. Classic family moments....Jim had a great sense of humor and was great to visit with. Uncle Jim was also the first person to ever make me wear a seat belt in a car....this was many years before wearing seat belts became a law."
"I am so sorry to hear of Jim's passing. My thoughts and prayers to his family & friends. He was another loss for our Class of 1961. He worked hard to keep us all in touch with the latest news and reunions. He will be greatly missed."
"Dear Bev and Family our hearts are sadden by the news of Jim's passing. In recent years the miles between us has kept us from seeing each other regularly. Please know that there is a special place in our hearts for the memories we shared as friends, neighbors, and law enforcement officers. Our prayers are with you and the family and we will continue to pray for God to hold you in His arms to bless and comfort you."
"Ehresman family, We were saddened to hear of Jim's passing, he will be missed by all of us at Moeller Tire & Auto. He was always in a great mood and a joy to be around. Brett Moeller"
"Our condolences to the Ehresman family in your loss."
"Bev and Family -- We are so very sorry to hear about Jim. He was a VERY special friend to MANY MANY persons in Tipton and surrounding areas. He will be greatly missed! We'll be leaving for home (from Branson) on Friday and will be in Tipton shortly thereafter with lots of hugs for all! May the great Lord be with you all these next few days."
"Sorry for your loss, Bev, we are sending prayers to you and family. Our family enjoyed the Ehersman family being our neighbors. This is when Jim was still home, a very long time ago. When we were all very little."
"Bev I will always remember Jim pulling me over in Denver Ia in 1968 just to say Hi. I was teaching there at the time it was a Friday afternoon and teachers could leave at the same time as the students. We were on mainstreet and a lot of students saw me pulled over. It took a long time to live that down. You and Jim are wonderful people. Jim will be missed. Gene Driscoll"
"Ehresman Family, You are in are prayers with the loss of your Husband, Father and Friend. Steve and Bonnie Donnolly"
"We were saddened to hear of Jim's passing. I always enjoyed B.S.ing with Jim at Moeller Tire or at the club. We will miss dearly Art and family"
"Jim, Thank You for your time, it was always a pleasure. Best Wishes to Bev and all your family."
"Bev & family, our hearts hurt along with yours, we will miss his big smile. You are in our thoughts and prayers. May the peace of God that passes all understanding comfort you in the days ahead. "
"Bev and family: So sorry to hear of your loss of Jim. What a great guy he was and we were so blessed to get to know him,you and your family when you lived in Mt. Pleasant-have many fond memories from that time. I have gotten to see Jeff off and on when he gets back to see Brent. You are in our thoughts and prayers and I know how hard it is to lose your best friend and husband. Sending my love, Paula Broeker-Mohrfeld"
"Janice and The Ehresman family sorry for your loss. You all will be in our thoughts and prayers."
"Bev, we are saddened by the news of Jim's passing. He was always a joy to play golf with and will be missed by many. Know that you and your family are in our thoughts & prayers."
"To Bev and the Ehresman family, I wish to send my sincere condolences on the loss of Jim. He was such a great guy. I was his secretary for awhile when he was in headquarters. He was a great boss and we had a lot of laughs. He had a very great sense of humor. I told him often that he reminded me a lot of my brother, Jim. Especially after he'd had several cups of coffee. Jim will be missed. I am so sorry for your loss. You will all be in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry that I will be unable to attend the services."
"Bev was my classmate and one of the luckiest women in the world to have married warm, funny, kind, terrific Jim. Jack and I are so sorry to hear this news and will be in Tipton to celebrate his life - a life well-lived. I can still see Jim's smile, the light in his eyes, and hear his laugh. How much he will be missed by all of his many friends - but most of all by his loving family. We are thinking of all of you and especially of Bev - I can't imagine your pain at losing this lovely man."
"Please accept my sincere condolences to your family on the passing of Jim. I was honored to have worked closely with him as a member of the Iowa State Patrol, more specifically while working with the State Patrol Tactical Teams. He loved being a part of these close knit units of men that chose to volunteer for this potentially dangerous assignment. He was a true leader and will be fondly remembered by many for his dedication to these teams. All my best. "
"BEV AND FAMILY WE ARE SO SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT JIM,S PASSING. AFTER LIVING ON THE SAME STREET FOR YEARS IN Oelwein and working with Jim in the Iowa State Patrol it was a pleasure to have known him. Our thoughts and prayers are with you for your loss. "
"Jamey, Rick and family, We are so sorry for your loss. Please know our prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. May you find peace in the knowledge that he is no longer in pain and is surrounded by angels. Blessings to you all. Kurt, Gretchen and boys"
"Bev & Family, So sorry to hear of Jim's passing. What a great guy, and neighbor. We will keep you in our prayers."
"Bev & Family, so sorry for your loss. We have many memories of your family when you lived in Oelwein..Prayers & Thought are w/your family.."
"Dad, one of my favorite moments was the day Jen and announced our engagement to the family, you gathered everyone around, poured glasses of wine, and made a toast to us. It was a very special moment for us and I will never forget it. We love you and miss you, but we will always keep you in our hearts. -Jeff, Jen, Jordyn. "
"Janice and family, Bill and I were so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother. He reminded me of your dad-kind, full of fun, and respectful of others. I hope all your memories will help you through this difficult time. We are thinking of you and offer our sincere sympathy to all of your family."
"He was one of my two Sergeant's when I moved to Mt.Pleasant on the Patrol in 1985, and one of my favorite Supervisors; very likeable and easy to talk and relate to. My sympathies to the family."
"So sorry for your loss"
"Very sorry to hear of your loss. He was a great example of the Patrol."
"Our condolences to you and your family Bev. Terry & Bonnie Ahrens."
"My condolences to the Ehresman family. You are all in my thoughts and prayers. "
"So sorry for your loss Jamey & family. Our prayers are with you. "
"Jamey and family, you are in my thoughts and prayers. Your dad must have been a wonderful man, he did have some pretty awesome kids and grandkids."
"I am really sorry to hear of your great loss . He was a great man and he will be missed a lot . I know that my mom will have him to talk to now . He has a lot of people who is just waiting for him up in Heaven . You are all in my thoughts and prayers !!!"
"Uncle Jim always made you feel at ease--comfortable--and important. He listened to us kids when we talked and interacted with us; he always made us laugh! When I think of him I think of his smile, he was always smiling. Their house was full of Uncle Jim smiles and Aunt Bev laughs!! What a good man. Not many people leave such a legacy of goodness, honor, strength, and humor. God bless you Aunt Bev, Jamey, Jodi, Jeff, and all your children. "
"Bev and family,it has been many years since I have seen you,but I did know that Jim was ill. I am so sorry for your loss. I hope keeping your memories close will help to ease your pain. You are all in my thoughts and prayers."
"Please accept my sincere condolences in Jim's passing. It was my honor to serve with him during my career in law enforcement. May he rest forever in the loving presence of Christ Our Savior. Ex IHP 64, BCI 623, DCI I-51 retired."
"Thinking of you and your family, Bev. Wishing you all strength and comfort."
"My condolences to the Ehresman family in your loss."