James Sieleman

James Martin Sieleman, 54, of Urbandale died of injuries sustained in an accident while hiking Mt. Shasta in northern California on August 11, 2016. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 22nd. Visitation will be held from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home in Urbandale on Sunday, August 21st. Jim was born in Mason City, Iowa on January 7, 1962 to Donald J. and Lois F. Sieleman. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1980 where he lettered in basketball and golf. After high school, Jim attended the University of Iowa, graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering. After college, Jim moved to southern California where he worked as an engineer and product development manager for several companies, including General Dynamics and TaylorMade-Adidas Golf. While living in southern California, Jim met the love of his life, Cathy. They married in 1997. In 1999, Jim and Cathy moved to Evanston, IL where Jim attended Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. In 2000, Jim and Cathy welcomed their son Jack to the family and in 2001 Jim obtained a Masters of Business Administration and a Masters of Management and Manufacturing from Kellogg. Following graduation from Kellogg, Jim began working for John Deere & Co. Jim’s career with Deere took the family from the Quad Cities to Porto Alegre, Brazil back to the Quad Cities and most recently to Ankeny where Jim was the Global Director, Cotton Product Line for the past four years. Jim was involved in several civic and professional organizations, including the Civic Music Association, the National Cotton Council and the Boy Scouts of America. Jim was 6’5” and had a personality and zest for life larger than his frame. He had an infectious laugh and a winning smile. Jim and Cathy loved traveling and saw much of the world together: over 30 countries on all 7 continents. Jim was a participant in life, not a bystander. He engaged in almost every outdoor activity imaginable: skiing, cycling, hiking, golfing, tennis, sailing and camping to name just a few. Jim was a guy you instantly liked – and never forgot. All who knew him are devastated by his untimely and tragic death. Jim is survived by his wife, Cathy, and their son, Jack; a sister, Debra K. (Jerry) Johnson of Marshalltown; a brother, Michael T. Sieleman, of Groton, Connecticut; as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his parents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jack Sieleman College Fund.