Jim Eller

Jim Eller, 54, of Winterset died Tuesday, February 27, 2018, at the Madison County Memorial Hospital in Winterset. A visitation will be held from 2 to 5 p.m., Saturday, March 3, at the Jackson Building in Winterset, where the family will be present to receive friends during this time. A Celebration of Life will follow beginning at 5 p.m. and a meal to follow. Burial will be held at a later date in the Winterset Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation and online condolences may be left for the family at ochiltree.com. James Eller, son of James and Patricia (Cole) Eller, was born September 5, 1963, in Kansas City, Missouri. During his working years, Jim was employed with Firestone for over ten years working with agricultural tire manufacturing. He also partnered in a business called Deck Masters serving a clientele in the Des Moines Metro. Jim didn’t start out with much but he was a successful real estate investor, having amassed several rentals and investments properties in Winterset and Madison County. He was always on the hunt for a good deal and ever since he was a kid, he was a wheeler dealer and could see a bargain from a mile away. Whether it was a new investment property or at an antique auction, Jim had an eye for a bargain. To him it was all about the chase and through it all he made many good friends. It could be said that he was half shrewd at negotiating and half hillbilly genius. Whatever it was, Jim had a knack for making things work. He had told friends and family that he had to work for everything he had and when his time came, he would expect his girls to have to work just as hard. Those who knew him well would say they can hear him now… Jim loved shooting pool and was a great shot. Over the years, he had participated in several pool leagues in Winterset. Of course, shooting pool goes hand-in-hand with drinking beer which Jim also enjoyed, along with listening to country music, eating good food, telling jokes, bullshiting and chasing women. He also enjoyed nostalgic hot-rods, Harley Davidson motorcycles, building race cars and helping any one he could. In 2015, Jim founded Rodell’s Smokehouse and BBQ in Winterset and he followed this up with a successful food truck. He was a respected businessman in Winterset and prided himself on helping to improve the community. All this said, Jim was loyal and good friend to many, although he could be brutally honest; his honesty was with the best intentions. He was an amazing father, was proud of his daughters and the legacy of his grandchildren. Those left to carry on his legacy include, his father, James ‘Jiggs’ Eller of Norwalk; daughters, Michaela (Joe) Allsup of Winterset, Betsy (Scott) Zetterberg of Winterset, and Rachel Eller of Winterset; brother, Michael Eller of Winterset; grandchildren, Alexia, Quenton, Blake, Mara, Teagan, Journey, Makenzi, Harli, Lydia, Lyla, Wesley, Chloe and AJ; a niece, Bailey; life partner, Lisa Rodriguez of Winterset; extended family and a host of friends. Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia; and a brother, John Eller.