James Willis Curell

February 2, 1953 - April 19, 2020

James Willis Curell February 2, 1953 – April 19, 2020 James Willis Curell passed away April 19, 2020, at the University of Iowa Hospital in Iowa City at the age of 67. Jim was born in Boone, Iowa, on Feb. 2, 1953, to Willis (“Bill”) Curell and Marilee (Oxenford) Curell. The second of three children, Jim was raised in a Baptist household devoted to Christ. Through Bill and Marilee, Jim learned the virtues of compassion for others and patience, which would be tested many times by his future children and grandchildren. He also picked up Bill and Marilee’s sense of humor and unshakeable faith. During the summer of 1970, Kim Franklin caught Jim’s eye at a local swimming pool. They had their first date on July 4 of that year and remained sweethearts from that point forward. He graduated from Boone High School in 1971, attended DMACC, and married Kim on Sept. 20, 1975. In 1980, they welcomed their first son, Andrew, followed by their second son, Ryan, in 1983. Jim lived in Boone for most of his life. In addition to his nearly 40 years as a furniture salesman at Redekers, Jim spent much of his time on the golf course. He played countless holes at Boone Golf & Country Club (now Cedar Pointe Golf Course) and Honey Creek Golf Club. Known informally as “The Legend,” Jim was recognized as Iowa Amateur of the Year in 1979 and as Iowa Senior Player of the Year in 2010. He also won several state and regional tournaments during more than 50 years of play. His love for golf was pure and obsessive. He would often spend lunch breaks at the putting green, perfecting his short game. Those who played with Jim appreciated his effortless swing and enjoyment of the game, as well as the high standards he set for himself. He was simply a humble golfer who loved summer days, hitting par (or better), and the sound of tapping a ball into the hole. In 2005, Jim underwent heart surgery to replace his aortic and mitral valves. It was during this time he focused his energies more on his family and friends. On the Back Nine of his life, he became a grandfather three times, retired early, and settled into his home near the second tee of Honey Creek Golf Club. Many of his days were filled maintaining grounds at Honey Creek, fishing at a nearby pond and judging tee-offs from the view of his kitchen, in between televised sporting events and sitcom reruns. A devoted son, Jim passed time with his dad playing cribbage, and inherited from Bill a love of sports, especially for the Chicago Cubs, Iowa Hawkeyes and – if they were not playing the Hawks – the Iowa State Cyclones. The Golf Channel was a must-have of any home cable package, a constant and reliable fallback if the Cubs were not playing. Like his father, Jim was known simply as one of the good guys. He liked to drive, usually commandeering the vehicle for long stretches of road during annual vacations on the way to and from South Carolina. He was funny, though without meanness. He was quick to break a tough moment, making it all right to smile or laugh. He was a voice of reason and did not suffer fools. Jim was a picky eater and, for some reason, did not like cheese. (As he would say, “I like what I like.”) His sage advice included warning people to be careful while backing up, and to have fun no matter where you were heading – whether it was a simple errand or a night out with friends. He was a stubborn yet giving man. Though he would (jokingly) grumble about adding a swimming pool, he became its most frequent visitor and where he could be found most warm months of the year. Throughout his life, Jim created a circle of friends with whom he spoke to and texted often. Off the golf course, he embraced his role of “cabana boy” and host to many in the neighborhood who were welcomed to take a dip or sit poolside with a cold beverage. In addition to his wife of nearly 45 years and his brother, Ken (Cathy) Curell of Boone, Jim is survived by two sons, Andy of Boone and Ryan (Emily) of Des Moines. He was a loving and doting grandfather to Josie, William and Alexander. He is preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law, Lorene Franklin, and his beloved sister, Cathy. His body was cremated. A small, private service will be held for family on Friday, April 24, at Schroeder-Stark-Welin in Boone. A memorial celebration of Jim’s life will be announced for a later date this summer. Memorials may be made to the family and will be used to memorialize Jim with a stone bench to be placed at Honey Creek. Jim had a strong, quiet faith that helped him persevere through life’s challenges. Though the last months of his life were difficult, they also brought him even closer to his wife. His final days were happy because of the unconditional love shared with Kim. His welcome to paradise was no doubt filled with fairways and greens. He would want the rest of us to stay out of the rough and, of course, to have fun. The Memorial Service for James Willis Curell will be lived streamed at 10:00 a.m. on Friday April 24, 2020 on our Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/SchroederStarkWelin/ The service will still be able to be viewed on our Facebook Page after the live stream has concluded. Online Condolences may be left at www.schroederfuneral.com Schroeder-Stark-Welin Funeral Home 515-432-4550