J. James "Jim" Eden

MASON CITY - J. James (Jim) Eden, 71, of 198 S. Grover Ave., 506, Mason City, passed away Friday evening, Feb. 10, 2012, at the I.O.O.F. Home, Mason City.
A Memorial Service to celebrate Jim's life will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 18, at Major Erickson Funeral Home, 111 N. Pennsylvania Ave., with Hospice Chaplain Ed Bard officiating.
Per Jim's request, his body has been cremated. A gathering of friends and family will be held one hour prior to the services on Saturday at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to the J. James (Jim) Eden fund in care of the family.
Jim was born Dec. 15, 1940, in Mason City, the son of Henry and Junella (Burgess) Eden. Jim went to school in Mason City at Monroe Jr. High and Mason City High School in the Class of 1959. Jim (J.J.) enlisted in the Navy and served as an ABE-3 working the catapult on the flight deck of the aircraft carrier USS Bon Homme Richard (CVA 31), serving two tours in Japan during the Vietnam Conflict.
Jim married Judith Greiman on March 31, 1962. They had four sons: James Scott, Jon Christopher, Jay Brett and Jason James. Jim married Miriam Eastman Weide on July 2, 1983.
Jim had many business ventures in his lifetime including Wildfire Collision Specialist, a family business he operated with his sons (teaching them the things he loved) doing auto body repair and auto sales, and Miriam's Restaurant. Most recently Jim and Miriam were apartment managers for Newbury Management and also managed senior communities in Colorado and California. Jim loved California.
In December 2010 poor health brought Jim and Miriam back to Mason City to be close to family. Jim received excellent care at the Mercy Cancer Center and from Hospice of North Iowa. The final move to IOOF was good and Jim liked being there. The staff was great and he didn't feel alone. Jim's family would like to thank his wife, Miriam, for all the love and care she has given our Dad.
Jim enjoyed auto racing, especially at the local dirt tracks, a love he passed on to his sons Chris and Brett. Jim loved doing body work, fixing cars and painting, whether it was on cars or painting murals on saw blades, candles and milk cans. Jim was known as a very good mechanic and talented painter. But his greatest pride was his four sons.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Henry (Hank) and June Eden; son Scott on March 11, 1997; step-mothers Lorraine and Mollie Eden; and numerous aunts and uncles.
Jim is survived by his wife, Miriam, of Mason City; sons Chris (Lori) of Urbandale and Brett (Sara) and Jason (Patti), both of Mason City; 10 grandchildren, Kyle, Michael, Zachary, Kayleigh, Tyler, Jay, Kaitlynn, Chloe, Abigail and Brady; and 4 great-grandchildren, Blake, Noah, Lennon and Kaydah. He loved you all very much!
Arrangements are with Major Erickson Funeral Home & Crematory, 111 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, Iowa 50401, 641-423-0924.
Online condolences may be left for the family at www.majorericksonfuneralhome.com.