Official Obituary of
James Robert Kitch
March 20, 1924 ~ May 18, 2014 (age 90) 90 Years Old
James Kitch Obituary
James R. "Jim" Kitch, 90, of Mt. Pleasant, died Sunday, May 18, 2014 at the Pleasant Manor Care Center in Mt. Pleasant.
A funeral service for Jim Kitch will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 21 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 20 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM Tuesday evening.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the First United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.
James Robert Kitch was born March 20, 1924 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of George Lane and Vera Emma (nee Taft) Kitch. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School where he played on the football team. On October 13, 1949 in Mt. Pleasant, Jim was united in marriage to Frances Albert Loper by the Rev. Wilson.
Shortly after graduation, Jim went into business with his brother Ed. They purchased their uncle Claude Taft's tin smithing business. From there, they bought Ruby Plumbing and Heating on Jefferson Street. They relocated the business to the corner of Monroe and Adams streets in 1948. Jim continued on with his brother in E.E. Taft Plumbing, Heating and Cooling until Ed sold his portion to Jim and moved to Provo, Utah. Jim remained in the business for a total of 41 years, until the mid 1980's, when he sold the business (now Taft-Wiley Plumbing & Heating) to the Wiley Brothers and retired.
Jim was a member of First United Methodist Church where he tended the church's rose garden for many years. He served on the Mt. Pleasant Utilities Board and was a member of the former Mt. Pleasant Jay-Cees. Jim volunteered extensively for the Mt. Pleasant Little League Association. He served on the governing board of Mt. Pleasant Little League and was a coach for a few years. He helped develop the baseball diamonds when the fields were at McMillan Park in Mt. Pleasant. He ran the water lines to the fields so the players would have close access to water. Jim also raised flowers at home. He was a fan of the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Those thankful for sharing in Jim's life include his wife of 64 years, Alberta of Mt. Pleasant; a son and his wife, James Michael "Mike" and his wife Wanda of Carman, IL; a daughter and her husband Debra Kay "Deb" and Gary Rodgers of Mt. Pleasant; a sister, Pauline Lucille Watkins of Sun City, AZ; 9 grandchildren - Laura Daniels, Jennifer Kitch, Kerry Trufant, Elizabeth Markle, Amanda Kitch, Debi Axell, Jimmy Kitch, Doug Kitch and Renee VanZandt, and 13 great grandchildren.
His parents, 2 sons - Harold Earl "Butch and Robert Dennis Kitch and 3 brothers - Edward Joel, Earl Warren and Richard Gordon Kitch precede Jim in death.
213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
309 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
A funeral service for Jim Kitch will be held at 10:30 AM on Wednesday, May 21 at the First United Methodist Church, 309 North Main Street, Mount Pleasant. The Reverend Deborah J. Stowers, Senior Pastor, will officiate. Burial will be in the Forest Home Cemetery, Mt. Pleasant. Friends may call from 12 Noon to 8:00 PM on Tuesday, May 20 at the Kimzey Funeral Home, 213 North Main Street, Mt. Pleasant. The family will be present to receive friends from 5-7 PM Tuesday evening.
Those considering an expression of sympathy may direct memorials to the First United Methodist Church. Online condolences may be directed to www.kimzeyfuneralhome.com.
James Robert Kitch was born March 20, 1924 in Mt. Pleasant. He was the son of George Lane and Vera Emma (nee Taft) Kitch. He graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School where he played on the football team. On October 13, 1949 in Mt. Pleasant, Jim was united in marriage to Frances Albert Loper by the Rev. Wilson.
Shortly after graduation, Jim went into business with his brother Ed. They purchased their uncle Claude Taft's tin smithing business. From there, they bought Ruby Plumbing and Heating on Jefferson Street. They relocated the business to the corner of Monroe and Adams streets in 1948. Jim continued on with his brother in E.E. Taft Plumbing, Heating and Cooling until Ed sold his portion to Jim and moved to Provo, Utah. Jim remained in the business for a total of 41 years, until the mid 1980's, when he sold the business (now Taft-Wiley Plumbing & Heating) to the Wiley Brothers and retired.
Jim was a member of First United Methodist Church where he tended the church's rose garden for many years. He served on the Mt. Pleasant Utilities Board and was a member of the former Mt. Pleasant Jay-Cees. Jim volunteered extensively for the Mt. Pleasant Little League Association. He served on the governing board of Mt. Pleasant Little League and was a coach for a few years. He helped develop the baseball diamonds when the fields were at McMillan Park in Mt. Pleasant. He ran the water lines to the fields so the players would have close access to water. Jim also raised flowers at home. He was a fan of the Green Bay Packers and the St. Louis Cardinals.
Those thankful for sharing in Jim's life include his wife of 64 years, Alberta of Mt. Pleasant; a son and his wife, James Michael "Mike" and his wife Wanda of Carman, IL; a daughter and her husband Debra Kay "Deb" and Gary Rodgers of Mt. Pleasant; a sister, Pauline Lucille Watkins of Sun City, AZ; 9 grandchildren - Laura Daniels, Jennifer Kitch, Kerry Trufant, Elizabeth Markle, Amanda Kitch, Debi Axell, Jimmy Kitch, Doug Kitch and Renee VanZandt, and 13 great grandchildren.
His parents, 2 sons - Harold Earl "Butch and Robert Dennis Kitch and 3 brothers - Edward Joel, Earl Warren and Richard Gordon Kitch precede Jim in death.
Visitation
MAY 20. 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM (CDT)
Kimzey Funeral Home213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
Family Present to Greet Friends
MAY 20. 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM (CDT)
Kimzey Funeral Home213 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
Service
MAY 21. 10:30 AM (CDT)
First United Methodist Church309 North Main Street
Mount Pleasant, IA, 52641
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