James Peter Bell
BELL, MCMANNUS, WARE, JACOBS, VONDERHAAR, BOLAR, DROSTE, BIERMANN
Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 5/3/2021 at 14:07:58
James Peter Bell, 69, passed away Thursday, April 22, 2021 at his home in Iowa City.
James was born in Cedar Rapids, IA on July 20, 1951 to Jack and Helen Bell. He attended Washington High School and graduated in 1970. He was on the swim team and held the record in the butterfly for many years. He then received a full swim team scholarship to Iowa State and attended school there for four years. He also swam on the YMCA National Team with his high-school classmates in Florida.
Jim was a member of the Amana Gun Club and the Herman Lodge of Cedar Rapids. He loved skeet shooting and was a state champion.
His love of nature was enjoyed at his farm in Louisa County along the Iowa River. He owned the land for 27 years. He hunted and established wetlands. In 2015, he enrolled his land in the Federal Wetlands Program. In 2020, he sold the farm to the Iowa Heritage Foundation.
Jim worked for his father out of college at the James W. Bell Co. In 1991, he bought the Deadwood Bar in Iowa City. He owned the bar for 26 years and enjoyed working with young people. He always had a smile and an ear for everyone he met.
Jim is survived by his wife of 16 years, Jo Ann Bell; sister Dana (Dr. John) McMannus of Tucson; brother John (Beth Ware) of McGregor; niece Heather McMannus of Phoenix; nephew Luke McMannus of Tucson; great-niece Ellie Jacobs of Phoenix; brother-in-law Tom (Julie) Vonderhaar; nephews Tony Vonderhaar and Tim (Jess Bolar) Vonderhaar; niece Jill (Travis) Droste and sister-in-law Jean (Jeff) Biermann, and numerous extended family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
A celebration of Jim’s life will be held from 2-5:00pm on July 11, 2021 at the Deadwood Bar (6 S. Dubuque St., Iowa City, IA). In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation and Hancher Auditorium.
Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
Johnson Obituaries maintained by Cindy Booth Maher.
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