James Wilmer Rhinehart

James Wilmer Rhinehart: Jim passed away Saturday evening at his home in Des Moines at the age of 83 years, 11 months and 16 days. His family includes two sons and daughters-in-law: Lincoln and Louise Rhinehart of Fremont and Mark and Joy Rhinehart of Pella; two daughters and a son-in-law: Jo Rhinehart of Des Moines and Sally and Jeff Norton of Des Moines. He was blessed with seven grandchildren and their spouses: Michael and Sherry Rhinehart of Iowa City; Matthew and Lindsay Rhinehart of Columbia, Missouri; Joshua and Missy Rhinehart of Pella; Jennifer and Sean Nathaniel of Omaha; Jeffrey and Liz Rhinehart of Fredericksburg, Texas; and Emily Norton and Carrie Norton of Des Moines; ten great-grandchildren: Zachary, Logan, Nathan and Andrew Rhinehart of Pella; Mackenzie and Marc Rhinehart of San Antonio, Texas; Tanner Blaker and Tresure Mazinke of Fredericksburg, Texas; and Anishka and Dinesh Nathaniel of Omaha. James Wilmer Rhinehart, son of James and Ida Smich Rhinehart, was born November 22, 1924, at his parent's rural home north of Fremont. He was a 1942 graduate of Oskaloosa High School and continued his education at the University of Seattle in Seattle, Washington. He entered the U.S. Navy on September 3, 1943 and served in Seattle, Washington and Farragut, Idaho before embarking the USS Richmond and the USS Bell. James was discharged as a Fire Controlman Third Class on March 25, 1946. He married Mary Wilharm January 12, 1947 in Waterloo, Iowa. He worked for Beatrice Foods Co. in Ottumwa, Iowa for 33 ½ years and took an early retirement in 1973. He worked for Oskaloosa Community Schools from 1973 to 1990. James had been a member of the Fremont United Methodist Church, United Methodist Men, Fremont Lions Club, Masonic Lodge #16, and Oskaloosa American Legion #34. He served on the Fremont Community School Board for sixteen years, twelve as president, and received ""Friends of Education"" award from Oskaloosa Education Association in 1987. James enjoyed fishing and woodworking in his leisure time. He spent most of his life in Oskaloosa, Ottumwa and Fremont prior to moving to Des Moines in 2001. James was preceded in death by his beloved wife Mary, in 2003, a brother John Lincoln Rhinehart in 1944 and a sister Dorothy Kerns in 2000. PDF Printable Version

James Wilmer Rhinehart

November 22, 1924 - November 8, 2008