James Raymond Christy

James "Jim" Raymond Christy, 81, formerly of Nevada, Iowa passed away on Tuesday, April 5, 2011 at Bethany Manor in Story City, Iowa. Visitation with the Christy family will be from 4:00 -7:00 PM on Friday, April 8, 2011 at the Memorial Lutheran Church, 701 11th Street, Nevada, Iowa. A memorial service with Pastor Myron Herzberg officiating will begin at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the church. A private family committal service will be held at the Roland, Iowa cemetery at a later date. Jim was born on March 4, 1930, to Glenn and Anabel (Raymond) Christy in Vinton, Iowa. He attended country schools in Benton County and graduated from Vinton High School in 1947. Jim earned two degrees from Iowa State University, a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy in 1951 and a Master of Science degree in vocational agriculture in 1966. In 1951, Jim began his employment with the Iowa State University Extension Service, first as a County 4-H Youth Assistant, then as the Story County Extension Director. Upon his retirement Jim was awarded the R.K. Bliss Extension Citation recognizing outstanding programming in agriculture, community development and with youth and an unusual c...[more]

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city to marshal community and county resources to serve educational needs. From 1986 through 1993 Jim served as an advisor for off-campus students in the Master of Agriculture degree program, instructed courses in Ag Economics and served as a team member to the Czech and Slovak Republics as part of an ISU management training and economics education program. Jim was instrumental in forming the Agriculture Alumni Society in 1988 and was the society's first president. He was honored in 1998 with the Alumni Medal by the Iowa State University Alumni Association in recognition of his service to the university through alumni activities. Jim was a private in the United States Army from 1951 - 1953, stationed in Salzburg, Austria, after the Korean War Conflict. He was married to Dorothy Olson at Salem Lutheran Church in Roland, Iowa on November 19, 1955. They made their home with their two children in Nevada, IA. Jim and Dorothy were very active in the Nevada schools, the Memorial Lutheran Church, the Nevada Parks and Recreation Department and Story County 4-H. Jim especially enjoyed all Nevada Cub athletics, Luther baseball, and ISU basketball and football, extended family gatherings and annual Vinton class reunions. Memorable activities for Jim included serving as the Mayor of Nevada for six years in the 90' s, and long time associations as a director on the State Bank and Trust Board of Directors, the Ames National Corporation Board of Directors and the Nevada Rotary Club. He will be remembered in the Nevada community as one who was willing to give his time to help or fundraise for the betterment of the community and county at large. Most recently he was serving on the Story County 4-H Foundation and Bethany Life Communities Foundation Boards. Jim and Dorothy moved to Story City in March of 2010 to live, and take part in the Bethany Life Community. Those left to cherish his memories are his wife of 55 years, Dorothy; one daughter Julie (Jerry) Bisher of Tama; one son, Jon (Janeen) Christy of Decorah; sister Naomi (George) McClurg of Spearfish SD, Brother-in-law James (Irene Winters) Olson of Boone; sister-in-law Leta Mae Christy of Vinton; one uncle, Melvin (Mary Jo) Christy, Portland, OR; four step grandchildren Christian (Amy) Bisher, Cody (Tori Dunham) Bisher, Casey Bisher, and Corey Bisher; two step great-grandchildren Brynn and Dylan Bisher, four nieces and one nephew. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother, Richard, of Vinton. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials to be directed to Memorial Lutheran Church, Bethany Life Foundation Chaplaincy Fund, or the Story County 4H Foundation in Jim's name. Chet Ryan Mortuary in Nevada has been entrusted with the care of Jim and his family. Online condolences may be left at www.chetryanmortuary.com