Zahn, James Eugene 1943-2011

ZAHN, RUSSELL, KING, TOBIN, LANGRECK, BRANNON, ROED, ZINKLE, CLARK, EILERS

Posted By: Connie Ellis (email)
Date: 10/22/2011 at 14:07:25

SOURCE: Thornburg-DeVries Funeral Home and Cremation Services, McGregor, Iowa notice
Contributor: Connie Ellis (Not related)

James "Jim" Zahn, age 67, of Panama City, Florida, died September 8, 2011, in his home of unknown causes. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. with military rites at the Thornburg-DeVries Funeral Home in McGregor, Iowa. Jim will be buried at sea by the U.S. Navy. James was preceded in death by his parents, his son Paul Zahn, his step-father, Serenus Eilers, his sister, Jean Clark and his brother-in-law, William (Bill) Clark.

Jim was born September 28, 1943 in McGregor, Iowa, Clayton County to Hank and Myrtle (Russell) Zahn. Jim was in the United States Navy for 10 years and served on the USS Kitty Hawk and the USS Hunley. While in the Navy he earned the Good Conduct Medal and the Vietnam Service Medal. He was honorably discharged in 1970. Jim married Helen King of Glasgow, Scotland and they became the parents of three children. Jim married his second wife, Theresa "Terry" Tobin in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Jim attended Area One Vocational Technical School in Calmar, Iowa where he earned a degree in building materials management. He was a successful salesman and worked for Menard's selling pole barns and sheds. He was also District Manager for A.L. Williams selling insurance. Later Jim became a chemical dependency counselor and retired from this occupation in 2007.

Jim had a passion for the outdoors. He was an avid hunter and fisherman. He won several trophies for coon hunting. While Jim resided in Marquette, Iowa, most of his free time was spent on the Mississippi River fishing and boating with family and friends. He loved his bass boat and entered many fishing tournaments. It is that love he had for the water that motivated Jim to move to Panama City, Florida. What enticed Jim about living on the gulf coast was the warm weather, sunshine, and being able to fish in the Gulf of Mexico all year long! He would say, "You never know what you're gonna catch!" He also loved his computer where he could connect with his family and friends from far away. He recently reunited with his shipmates from the Navy.

James Eugene Zahn is survived by his daughters, Natalie Zahn of Fort Atkinson, Iowa and Natasha Zahn of Panama City, Florida; 4 grandchildren, James Langreck of Charles City, Iowa, Justin Langreck and Michael Brannon, both of Fort Atkinson, Iowa, and Hannah Roed of Panama City, Florida; a niece, Susan (Dick)
Zinkle of Stueben, Wisconsin, and 3 nephews, Patrick (Beatriz) Clark of Laurel, Maryland, William (Joyce) Clark of LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and Stephen (Verna) Clark of Elmhurst, Illinois and their families.