James "Jack" Merlin Ward

James Merlin "Jack" Ward, 100, of Tipton, Iowa, died Wednesday, May 17, 2017, at Mercy Hospital following a sudden illness. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 23, 2017, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Tipton. Burial will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Mechanicsville. Visitation will be from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Monday, May 22, 2017, at Fry Funeral Home, Tipton, with a public rosary to begin at 3:45 p.m. Memorials in Jack's honor may be directed to Tipton Senior Dining. Online condolences may be shared at www.fryfuneralhome.com. Jack was born at the family home near Mechanicsville, Iowa, on January 13, 1917, to Clement Bernard and Anne Elizabeth (Ross) Ward. Jack graduated from Mechanicsville High School with the class of 1934, and acquired his skills for farming by working as a hired man for different farmers in the area. He married Mary Rita Walshire on November 19, 1938, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Mechanicsville. Jack and Mary farmed together for over 40 years near Clarence, Iowa, where Jack was active in the community through 4-H and his parish. He enjoyed playing cards and shared many other interests with Mary, as well as with many neighbors and friends. Jack is survived by his four children; daughter Jacqueline Anne (Fred) Freese of Waterloo, and sons Clement (Mimi) Ward of Stillwater, OK, John Ward of Tipton and Kevin (Norma) Ward of Iowa City; nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Mary, one of his twin daughters, Mary Katherine "Kay" Ward, and four sisters: Helen ("Jack") McNamara, Verna (Charles) Mulherin, Marie (Orlan) Roth and Elizabeth "Betty" Ward.