James Kerwin

James Francis "Jim", son of Thomas Jerome and Lillian Claire (Foley) Kerwin was born on December 8, 1927 in Carroll, Iowa. He attended St. Joseph's Grade School and graduated from Carroll High School in 1946. Jim then enlisted in the United States Army and served in Tokyo and Kyoto, Japan. After his deployment, he enrolled at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. In 1951, Jim was again deployed to Korea. Upon his honorable discharge he finished his studies at Creighton University, graduating in 1953 with a degree in commerce. On August 28, 1954, Jim was united in marriage with Nancy Cook at St. John's Catholic Church on the Creighton campus in Omaha where both had received their degrees. They were the parents of two daughters. Jim worked for Dun and Bradstreet in Omaha and often traveled to the Black Hills of South Dakota for his work. In August of 1955 he moved to Carroll and took a position with Commercial Savings Bank, where he worked until his retirement in 1990. Jim was a very active member of the Carroll Chamber of Commerce. He took great pride in being the first president of the men's group at the combined Holy Spirit Parish. Jim was also on the Diocese of Sioux City financial board. In high school he began writing a sport column called Chalk Lines for the Carroll Daily Times Herald. When he returned to Carroll and Kuemper High Schools was formed, Jim covered Kuemper major athletics. Many nights he would be up writing his column after a long trip from Sioux Falls before having to go to work at the bank. In May 1974 Jim and his friend Neil Trobak traveled to St. Louis where they were privileged to meet Hank Aaron. There, Jim had Hank sign the baseball that Babe Ruth had autographed for him when he was twelve and the Babe was "barnstorming" in Rockwell City. Hank had just broken Babe's homerun record. In the 1980's and in his retirement, Jim authored three books on the history of Carroll and Carroll County: Word Pictures of Early Carroll County; My Home Town Carroll, Iowa; and Postcards from Carroll. Jim took pride in his books and was asked to speak about the books at many local gatherings. In his retirement he received the Carroll Chamber Humanitarian Award, the Governor's Volunteer Award, and the Kuemper Community Service Award. On October 15, 2009, Jim died at St. Anthony Regional Hospital in Carroll at the age of 81 years, 10 months, and 7 days. Jim lived and died within a block of his birth home, his grandparents home, and his own home where he lived the last 47 years. He was preceded in death by his parents. Jim is survived by his wife Nancy Kerwin of Carroll; daughters Michele Kerwin of Carroll and Patrice and husband Dr. Ralph Strother of Union; grandchildren: Kathryn Strother and Robert Strother both of Ames; sisters Sister Maris Kerwin of Lacrosse, WI and Kathleen and husband Lee Ogle of Omaha, NE; other relatives and many friends. Celebrants REVEREND TIMOTHY A. JOHNSON REVEREND JAMES MCCORMICK REVEREND THOMAS E. GEELAN REVEREND JOHN J. GERALD Lector KATHRYN CLAIRE STROTHER ROBERT KERWIN STROTHER Eucharistic Ministers WINNIE GEELAN-POTTHOFF KATHRYN BRADDY Gift Bearers SISTER MARIS KERWIN KATHLEEN OGLE Music "HERE I AM, LORD" "PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS" "ON EAGLES WINGS" "LEAD ME LORD" HOLY SPIRIT CHOIR BARB MCDERMOTT, ORGANIST BECKY WINDSCHITL, VIOLIN SOLOIST DAVID BARTLING, PRELUDE PIANIST Casket Bearers PAUL MILLIGAN LOUIE GLASS DAVID RUST CLETE WINDSCHITL NEIL TROBAK JOHN STEFFES