James Kenneth Orr

James Kenneth Orr

Bettendorf

James Kenneth Orr, 83, Bettendorf, passed away on Friday, March 21, 2025, with family at his side at The Quartet Senior Living, Bettendorf. Memorial services in celebration of his life will be at 10 a.m. Friday, April 4, at Bettendorf Presbyterian Church, 1200 Middle Road, Bettendorf, with Pastor Troy Winder officiating. A memorial visitation will be 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 3, at Weerts Funeral Home, 3625 Jersey Ridge Road, Davenport. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the West Chester Heritage Association, Bettendorf Presbyterian Church or K9 Kindness Rescue.

Jim was born February 23, 1942, in Washington, Iowa, to Donald K. and Harriet Orr. He spent his childhood growing up in West Chester, Iowa, where he devoted his time helping out on the family farm.

Jim graduated from West Chester High School in 1960 where he was president of his class. After high school he attended Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and later completed his education at St. Ambrose University in Davenport, Iowa. It was during his early years at Coe College that he discovered a love of radio broadcasting. Spending many a late night in the DJ booth on First Avenue in Cedar Rapids, would ultimately lead him to find the love of his life, Karen Eilers. They were united in marriage on September 25, 1970, in Davenport, Iowa.

After relocating to Davenport, Jim continued his radio broadcasting career at KSTT becoming one of the ‘Good Guys’ as on-air personality Jeff Blake. With his dynamic and distinctive voice, Jim continued to use his larger-than-life presence behind the microphone for many years as a commercial voiceover artist for numerous companies and organizations throughout the Midwest. Eventually, Jim’s industrious spirit would lead him to pursue a career path outside the broadcasting booth.

Throughout the majority of his life, Jim demonstrated a venture-driven mentality, at one point becoming the Vice President of Happy Joe’s Pizza & Ice Cream, later moving on to start several other successful restaurant franchises and eventually launching his own video store chain and tanning salon business. He and his beloved wife Karen were not only partners in life but in business as well, spending tireless hours working together to ensure all the family business ventures were a success.

Jim was an adventurer. He obtained his private pilot’s license and was an avid hot air balloon enthusiast serving as the Happy Joe’s Pizza and WQAD balloon pilots over the years. He developed a passion for photography and videography early on in life, which allowed him to capture the beauty of the world around him and document all of the adventures he and Karen enjoyed together. Snowmobile trips with friends to Wisconsin and Wyoming and embracing the thrill of the open road on their motorcycles while camping in the mountains out West were more examples of the adventures they shared together.

Later in life, he and Karen took up ballroom dancing, an activity that brought them great joy and kept their bond strong throughout the years. Together they loved to travel and enjoyed the sun, sand and serenity they found on their vacations to Jamaica and also relished wintering at their home in Florida.

Jim’s charismatic personality and generous spirit will be profoundly missed by all who were fortunate to know him. Those left to honor his memory include his daughter, Kelly (Jason) Dollins of Bettendorf, son, Ryan Orr (Libby Kinzer) also of Bettendorf; his five grandchildren, Ethan and Emma Dollins, Silas, Ada and Sloane Orr. His brother John (Carolyn) Orr, Ormond Beach, Fla., numerous nieces and nephews, many lifelong friends and his rescue dog Khloe.

He was preceded in death by his cherished wife of 46 years, Karen and his parents.

Online condolences may be made to Jim’s family by visiting his obituary at www.weertsfh.com