James Keith Ehresman

James "Jim" K. Ehresman, 71, of Tipton, died Saturday, November 8, 2014, Mercy Hospital Hospice Unit, Iowa City. Memorial services will be held on Thursday, November 13, 2014 at 10:30 am, United Methodist Church, Tipton, with burial to follow in the Rochester Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, November 12, 2014 from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton. A memorial fund has been established in his memory. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Jim was born to Mary Dolores (Hartley) Ehresman and Dale Ehresman on April 9, 1943 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He graduated from Tipton High School in 1961, attended both the University of Iowa and UNI before joining the Iowa Highway Patrol in 1966. While on the Iowa State Patrol he lived in Oelwein, Mt. Pleasant, LeClaire and Altoona where he ended his 33 year career as a major at the headquarters in Des Moines. As he moved through the ranks he received recognition for the various technical accident investigation schools, hostage negotiation, tack team leader and attended the 168th session of the FBI National Academy Associates in Quantico, Virginia from January til March in 1992. In 2001 he and his wife Bev retired to their hometown of Tipton. There he enjoyed working with a local carpenter. On June 5, 1964 Jim married his wife Beverly (Kohl) Ehresman and together they had three children. Jamey (Rick) Varney, Jody (Mark) Crooks, and Jeffrey (Jennifer) Ehresman. They have seven beloved grandchildren: Shelby, Gabriel and Jackson Varney, Andrew, Nathan and Daniel Crooks, and Jordyn Ehresman. Jim was a member of the United Methodist Church, belonged to the NE Iowa Peace Officers Association, the State Patrol Supervisors Association, the Board of Adjustments, Methodist Trustees committee and the Tipton Country Club. He enjoyed many activities including hunting, fishing, camping, boating, golfing, woodworking, gardening and especially family. Jim is survived by his wife, Beverly, daughters Jamey (Rick) Varney of Decorah, Iowa, Jody (Mark) Crooks of West Burlington, Iowa, his son Jeffrey (Jennifer) Ehresman of Des Moines, Iowa, seven grandchildren, one brother Thomas (Mary) Ehresman of Tipton, Iowa, two sisters, Dalene McKinnon of Cedar Rapids, Iowa and Janice Hetherington of Des Moines, Iowa, plus many brothers and sisters-in-laws, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents, his mother and father-in-law, one sister Jean Britcher, brother-in-law, Vance McKinnon. Jim touched the lives of many people and will be greatly missed by family and many, many friends.