James Michael Dolan

James (Jim) Michael Dolan

James (Jim) Michael Dolan was born on June 5,1934, the youngest of 8 children born to Thomas (Tim) and Edna Wolff Dolan. As the baby of the family, he was envied by his brothers Lawrence, John, Tom, Albert and sisters Kate, Miriam and Pat.

Jim attended school at St. Mary's where he was active in baseball. He boasted that when he was on the baseball team St. Mary's beat East and West every year he was in High School.

Jim met the love of his life, Jeannette Delagardelle in 1952 while they were in High School. Jim said they fell in love because Jeannette thought Jim had the best-looking legs in baseball. They married on May 20, 1953 and their romance lasted 67 years until Jeannette passed away on May 12, 2021.

When he wasn't working at his business, Jim Dolan Insurance, he could be found at his Condo on Lake Pelican, or in the hills of Northeast Iowa. Fish, Deer, Ducks, Turkeys and Pheasants trembled at the thought of running into him. When he retired after 40 years in the insurance business, he continued to pursue his passion for fishing and hunting.

Jim loved and lived out his Irish heritage. He could be found singing Irish tunes on St Patrick's Day, crooning the crowds at the American Legion, the Amvets, and Knights of Columbus for over 50 years. He volunteered for the Iowa Irish Fest and was responsible for organizing the first mass in the park on Sunday of the fest. Today thousands of people attend this outdoor service. Jim and Jeannette were King and Queen of the Fest in 2012 and they wore their crowns well. Jim treasured the homeland in county Cavin, Ireland, and he felt privileged to go to Ireland twice in his lifetime.

With Jim's passing, the lives of the Tim and Edna Dolan clan comes to an end, but no worries, their legacies live on and their memories will be kept alive by the multitude of their descendants.

Jim will live on through his son Jeff, grandchildren T.J , Ryan, Mic, Lauren, Megan, and many precious great grandchildren, sister-in-law Joyce Brunko, brother- in-law Arnold Delagardelle and countless nieces, nephews, and friends.

Irish eyes are smiling in Heaven as his parents, his wife Jeannette, his son Tim, his brothers and sisters, his grandson Russel and his daughter-in-law Shellie Dolan wait to greet Jim at the throne.

Services for Jim will be at 10: 30 a.m. on Monday, November 24, 2025 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church with burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, both in Waterloo. Public visitation will be from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m. on Sunday at Hagarty-Waychoff-Grarup Funeral Service on South Street with a 1:30 p.m. rosary. Visitation will continue one hour prior to Mass at the church on Monday. Services will be livestreamed at: https://www.blessedsacramentwaterloo.org/blesac-live.

Memorials can be directed to: The Family.