Jim Garrett

Jim Garrett, 93, of rural Chariton, passed away December 9, 2023. Funeral services will be Tuesday, December 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at the Pierschbacher Funeral Home in Chariton. Family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 10:00 a.m. Following the service everyone is invited to share in a luncheon at the funeral home. Interment will be at the Chariton Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to the Lucas County Fair Association to help improve the fairgrounds.

James Richard Garrett was born September 19, 1930, at the family home of Oran and Abbye Garrett. He spent his entire 93 years on the farm north of Chariton. Jim graduated from Chariton High School in 1948. During high school Jim met the love of his life, JoAnn Retherford, and they were married on May 19th, 1951, at the First United Methodist Church in Chariton, a union which has lasted more than 72 years. He always said, “JoAnn put that ring on my finger and I’ve never taken it off!”

Jim spent his life as a cattle and crop farmer and was thrilled to accept the Heritage Farm plaque at the Iowa State Fair in 2017 on behalf of the 7 generations of Garretts who have lived and farmed here. Jim’s love of livestock farming included clerking at several area livestock auctions for 50 years. This included the Emerson, Garrett, and Goode Sale Barn in Knoxville, co-owned by his grandfather, Clarence; and sale barns in Albia, Knoxville, and Chariton. He clerked countless household and farm auctions alongside his father, Oran. As a young man Jim served in the Army National Guard as a supply sergeant.

Jim loved playing fast pitch softball for Belinda and was an outstanding shortstop on the team. Community was of great importance to him and he gave of his time to support the local 4-H, Farm Bureau, Iowa Cattlemen’s Association, and his church.  Jim and JoAnn were active members of the Pleasant Prairie Church as he helped build the landmark “Little Red Church”, and after its closing, they attended and became members of the Columbia Methodist Church.

Although Jim was always busy with work and the farm, he loved to travel. Jim and JoAnn loved to take yearly trips with the family in the Port-A-Camper. And he was able to take photos of all 50 state capitals, and traveled to seven countries in Europe, Hawaii, and cruises through the Caribbean and Alaska.

Jim loved being out and about, making friends wherever he went. Using his quick wit and sense of humor, Jim made new friends easily. The legacy Jim leaves is not only in the land and farm that has been carried on for 7 generations, but it is in his family. The family he was so proud of and he loved to see the next generations growing and continuing on.

Jim will be greatly missed by his wife of 72 years, JoAnn; children: Mary Erickson, Mike (Jill) Garrett, and Susie (John) Long; grandchildren: Robbie (Jennifer) Patterson, Josh (Lauren) Bruce, Ben Garrett, Sara Pickerell, Kirk (Jodi) Storm, and Jamie (Keara) Storm; great grandchildren: Madelyn Patterson, Garrett Patterson, Conner Pickerell, Ty Pickerell, Hadley Pickerell, Abby (Aaron) Cain, Emma Storm, Ashley (Levi) Abbas, and Kelsey Storm; great grandchildren, Summer Cain and Emmett Abbas. Along with sisters: Joanne (Dean) Sellers, Carolyn Nichols, and his brother-in-law, Eldon Reed; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Oran and Abbye Garrett; sister, Linda Reed; and brother-in-law, Jr. Nichols.