James Albert Heithoff

James Albert Heithoff, the son of Lawrence and Helen (Ludwig) Heithoff, was born April 14, 1951, in Carroll, Iowa and died June 23, 2019, at Mercy One Medical Center in Des Moines, Iowa at the age of 68 years, 2 months, and 9 days.
Jim was baptized at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Templeton, Iowa and confirmed at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Dedham, Iowa. He attended Sacred Heart Parochial School in Templeton, St. Joseph Parochial School in Dedham, the Viola Schools, and then graduated from the Audubon High School with the Class of 1970. Jim helped operate the family farm and purchased his own farm near Viola Center.
In 1972, he was united in marriage to Shirley Irlmeier at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Manning, Iowa. They were blessed with seven children. They lived on the farm near Viola where he grew row crops and raised cattle and hogs. Along with his own farm, he also farmed his father’s land and did custom farming for several other neighbors. Jim was involved in the farming industry for many years until he was forced to retire due to his failing health.
Jim was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon and was a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a member of the Audubon County Pork Producers and the Farm Bureau. Jim also enjoyed welding and woodworking.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Lawrence and Helen Heithoff; his grandparents; and his aunts and uncles.
Jim is survived by his children: Randy and wife Julie Heithoff of Berryton, KS, Scott and wife Jennifer Heithoff of Roland, IA, Craig and wife Ami Heithoff of Georgetown, KY, Jenny and husband Danny O’Keefe of Olathe, KS, Todd and wife Mardie Heithoff of Pleasant Hill, IA, Beth and husband Michael Doidge of Cleghorn, IA, and Neil Heithoff and wife Kimberly Wernimont of Ankeny, IA; 20 grandchildren; his special friend Vikki Stevenson of Des Moines, IA; his sisters: Patty and husband Dennis Staudt of Marble Rock, IA, Karen and husband Steve Riley of Coon Rapids, IA, and Nancy and husband Ron Bowman of Coon Rapids, IA; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
The family will meet with friends on Friday evening, June 28, 2019, at 5:00 P.M. at the Kessler Funeral Home in Audubon, Iowa. The Mass of the Christian Burial will be celebrated by Father David Nkrumah on Saturday morning, June 29, 2019, at 10:30 A.M. at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Audubon. Dispersion of the cremains will be at a later date. The casket bearers will be Randy Heithoff, Scott Heithoff, Craig Heithoff, Jenny O’Keefe, Todd Heithoff, Beth Doidge, and Neil Heithoff. The honorary casket bearers will be Nathaniel Heithoff, Mari Heithoff, John Heithoff, Gemma Heithoff, Olivia Heithoff, Tyler Heithoff, Stella Heithoff, Aleah Heithoff, Audrey Heithoff, Alex Heithoff, Kathryn O’Keefe, Eleanor O’Keefe, Ivy Heithoff, Violet Heithoff, Autumn Heithoff, Katherine Doidge, Sophia Doidge, Jackson Doidge, Sydney Heithoff, Carson Heithoff, Mike Roseman, Leonard Neitzel, Mike Horvatich, and Larry Pomeroy.