James Donald Kerr

1924 - 2025

James D. Kerr, 101, of Tripoli, died Friday, September 12, 2025, at Bartels Lutheran Retirement Community in Waverly.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, September 15, 2025, at the United Methodist Church in Frederika with Lay Speaker Betty Schmudlach and Lay Speaker Neil Whitney officiating. Interment will follow at Alcock Cemetery, rural Frederika. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m., Sunday, September 14, at Becker & Son Funeral Home in Tripoli and for one hour preceding services at the church on Monday. Memorials may be made to the family for later designation. Becker & Son Funeral Home in Tripoli is assisting James' family. Online condolences may be left at www.beckermilnesrettig.com.

James Donald, son of Robert Donald and Alice Nanette (Huppert) Kerr, was born on January 25, 1924, at the family's farm home rural Hudson, Iowa. He was baptized and confirmed at the United Brethren Church in Hudson. James graduated from Hudson High School in 1941. On April 16, 1947, he was united in marriage with Louise Olson at Elfsburg Lutheran Church in Pomeroy. To this union, three children were born, Steven J., Julia, and Linda. James began his life of farming with his father at the family's farm, rural Hudson, prior to the family moving to Frederika in 1942, where he continued to farm his entire life. In the mid-1980s, James and Louise moved into Tripoli, but James continued to farm. He was an 80-year member of the United Methodist Church in Frederika, where he served as trustee for many years. He was a longtime member of Farm Bureau, 4-H and served as the president of the Bremer County Extension. James' profession was also his passion, farming. When he wasn't spending time on the farm, he and his wife, Louise, loved to travel.

James is survived by his children, Julie (Kenny) Hennings of Tripoli and Linda (Kevin) Monnier of Ionia; seven grandchildren, Angela Daniels, Michelle (Douglas) White, Daniel (Jenny) Hennings, Chelse (Kevin) Wagner, Kirk (Sarah) Monnier, Trevor (Jess) Monnier, and Beth (Christopher) Sulú; 16 great-grandchildren, Isabelle (Aaron) Knight, Theodore Daniels, Aria White, Alexa White, Eliza White, Sylvia Hennings, Simon Hennings, Scarlett Hennings, August Wagner, Athan Wagner, Edmond Monnier, Colin Monnier, Sophie Monnier, Percy Monnier, Ivan Monnier and Grace Sulú; and many nieces, nephews and extended family members.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Louise; son, Steven J. Kerr; grandson, Shawn Kerr; and siblings, Wilma Bode, Margaret Roderick, Marian Beck, Virginia Sinclair, Doris Boland and Robert Kerr.