Jim Heer

To view the livestream service, click on Tribute Wall above then watch now. James (Jim) Heer died Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at Deerfield Senior Living as the result of a stroke. His twin daughters were at his side. He was 94. Jim was born to Jim and Mary (Munsch) Heer on the family farm outside of Linton, North Dakota on March 16, 1928. He attended school in Temvik, North Dakota and on August 31, 1947, he married Theresa Marie Monahan in Linton, North Dakota. To this union were born three children, Terrill (Terry) in 1948 and twins Sharleen and Sherrill in 1953. They were married 64 years until her death in 2011. He truly missed his sweetheart! From 1947 to 1953, Jim and Theresa traveled throughout the Midwest while Jim worked for Pittsburgh Des Moines Steel building water tanks. In January of 1953, they decided to settle in Des Moines when Terry was about to start school. Jim began working on the sales order desk at Globe Machinery and Supply Company. After a year in Ames, Iowa, the family moved to Urbandale, Iowa where Jim began his 25-year career at Nott Company selling industrial supplies. After he retired in 1990, he kept busy working around the yard and house. In 1999, he and Theresa moved to a townhome and with no yard work to do, he had to find something to keep him busy. He began working as an ambassador, driving cars for Willis Auto Campus, a job he very much loved. He did that into his 80’s and after a stint volunteering for the Urbandale Food Pantry, he finally decided he had worked enough. In his free time, Jim spent many hours tending his yard and garden, building and fixing things around the house, and most of all playing poker and pitch with his long-time buddies. He continued his Friday afternoon card games up until the last year. Another activity to which Jim devoted many hours was the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. He was a very active Shriner until about 5 years ago. He was in the Greeters Unit serving as President for a time and also worked with the Hospital Dads. He and Theresa enjoyed many trips and cruises all over the world with the Shrine. Jim was preceded in death by his wife Theresa, his son Terry, his parents, his in-laws Jim and Joanna (Brophy) Monahan, two brothers Alton and Erndy Heer, one sister Bernice Wilson, grandson Stephen Roskam, and several nieces and nephews whom he loved very much. He is survived by his daughters Sharleen Newton and her husband Jim and Sherrill Roskam and her husband Mike. Sharleen’s family includes son Michael Newton and his wife Maria and sons Asa, Kiernen and Arlo and daughter Meredith DeZorzi and her husband Joe and daughters Claire and Paige. Sherrill’s family includes daughter Nicole Davis and her husband Scott and children Shane, Kendall and Payton, son Nathan Roskam and his wife Melissa and children Addyson and Stephen, daughter Sarah Hozack and her husband Brandon and son Emery, and son Andrew Roskam and his wife Morgan and daughter Hallie. He is also survived by several nieces and nephews whom he loves very much and his sister-in-law Joyce McHugh in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Sharleen and Sherrill want to extend a special thanks to Mercy Hospice, especially to Karen and Brenda who provided such loving care to Dad and us. We also want to thank the Deerfield Health Center and other staff who took great care of Dad and helped us to navigate these last few months as we dealt with Dad’s illness and death. Finally, we want to send out a special thank you and we love you to Cary Lindman and his family. Cary was a very special friend to Dad, almost like a son for a very long time. They were very close, and Cary kept close to Dad up until his death. A memorial service/visitation for Jim will be held on Saturday, July 2, 2022 at Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home at 8201 Hickman Road, Urbandale starting at 2:00. Memorials in Jim’s name may be given to the Urbandale Food Pantry at 7611 Douglas Ave #34-35, Urbandale, IA 50322, to the family to be designated later, or to a charity of the donor’s choice in Jim’s name.