Funeral Services for Jim Irwin, 75, of Jefferson, formerly of Bagley will be 11:00 am Monday, November 23, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson. Burial will be in Richland Township Cemetery. Visitation will be after 2:00 pm Sunday, November 22, 2009 at the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson with the family present from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

Memorials are suggested to the Alzheimer’s Foundation or the First United Methodist Church in Jefferson and may be left at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson.

James Terrill Irwin was born on a farm east of Bagley, Iowa on March 7, 1934. He was the first child of the late George and Lurene Irwin. The family soon expanded to include two brothers, Robert and Don, and a sister, Joyce. Growing up, he loved his family, farming, and fast cars; these were themes for the rest of his life. He graduated from Bagley High School in 1951 and Iowa State College in 1955 with a B.S. in Agricultural Education. He met the love of his life, Pauline Hanson, at a dance in her hometown, Jamaica, Iowa, and they were married on August 29, 1954. After Jim graduated from Iowa State they moved to Reinbeck, Iowa where he was a vocational agriculture teacher. He then went on to a ten-year career managing cooperative elevators in Morrison, Iowa; Ellsworth, Iowa; and Medford, Oklahoma. Jim and Pauline had three children during this time in their life, Cindy, Scott, and Jan. In 1965, he realized a lifetime dream and moved the family to Bagley, Iowa to begin farming. Jim and Pauline farmed together for the next 37 years, retiring in 2002. He had a reputation as one of the best farmers in the area and took great pride in both the crop and livestock sides of the farm operation. As much as he loved farming, it even took a back seat to his favorite pastime---watching sprint car races at his favorite track in Knoxville, Iowa. Jim and Pauline traveled all over the nation following the World of Outlaws Sprint Car circuit with their friends. Poppa Jim loved spending time with his nine grandchildren, especially having them visit the farm and taking them to the races.

Jim died on November 20, 2009. He is survived by Pauline, his wife of 55 years; a daughter, Cynthia Allen, and her husband Duane of Olathe, Kansas; a son, Scott, and his wife Kim of Mahomet, Illinois, and a daughter, Jan, and her husband Rick of Hubbard, Iowa. Jim is also survived by a nephew, Eric Hanson, and his wife Ann, of Viola, Illinois, who grew up with the family. His beloved grandchildren are Lindsey Springer and her husband Justin of West Hollywood, California; Lauren Allen of Olathe, Kansas; Matt Irwin of Iowa City, Iowa; Kate, Stacey, and Jayvon Irwin of Mahomet, Illinois; Jordan Vaughan of Des Moines, Iowa; Reilly Vaughan of Lone Tree, Iowa, and Logan Vaughan of Iowa City, Iowa.