James 'Jim' Allerdice

JAMES "JIM" CHESTER ALLERDICE

Fairfield

James "Jim" Chester Allerdice, 91, of Fairfield, went to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Monday, Sept. 30, 2019, at Jefferson County Health Center. A funeral Mass is planned for 10:30 a.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at St Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield with Father Nick Adam officiating. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield. Visitation for family and friends will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at Behner Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Fairfield Little League or Shriners Children Hospital. Cards can be sent to 3000 W. Madison #522, Fairfield, IA 52556.

Jim Allerdice was born July 21, 1928, in Jefferson County, the son of Alex and Violet (Engwall) Allerdice. He married JoAnn (Peck) Fry on Nov. 23, 1968, at Barhydt Chapel in Fairfield. Jim graduated from Fairfield High School in 1946. He started working for Gerald Anderson, bailing hay in 1943. He joined the National Guard and served from 1947 to 1958. He worked for the R.E.C. in Mount Pleasant from 1951 to 1958. He worked at the Ordinance Plant from 1958 to 1960, and at Iowa Electric for 26 years (1960 to 1986). Upon retirement, he was able to fulfill his passion of being a fulltime farmer (1986 to 2014).

Jim played ball for VFW for 10 years, coached Little League, played ball with the Burlington Bees, was a member of the Elks-Clinton Lodge, a Shriner and member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Fairfield.

Jim loved to laugh, hunt, golf and spend time with the love of his life, his wife. He loved his family and friends. Those were some of his greatest joys. He had a quiet spirit about him. Everyone he met their lives were touched in a profound way and never to be the same. He lived the motto: "Take time to smell the roses."

Survivors include his wife, JoAnn; his children, Becky Stagers of Bettendorf, Connie (Chris) Baxter of Carthage, Tenn., Diane (John) VanWinkle and Greg (Lori) Fry, both of Fairfield, and Bobbette (Tim) Buch of Pella; 13 grandchildren, Amanda Creighton, Allison Martin, Stephanie Dunn, Jenny Baxter, Josh VanWinkle, Nathan VanWinkle, Amy VanWinkle, Tara Braithwaite, Ashley Johnson, Danielle Hill, Brittney Tiller, Colton Fry and Dillon Fry; and 20 great-grandchildren.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Salena Allerdice; two sisters, Norma Allerdice and Doris Harder; one granddaughter, Lindsay Stagers; and one son-in-law, James Stagers.

A heartfelt thanks to the medical staff at JCHS for the amazing care they provided in the last month of Jim's life.

Online condolences may be made to the family at www.behnerfh.com.