A memorial visitation for James R. Peer, 79, of Yale, will be 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Thursday, February 26, 2009 at Slininger-Rossow Funeral Home in Jefferson. A private family burial will take place at a later date in the Franklin Township Cemetery in Cooper, Iowa. James is survived by his friend Mary Ann Crabtree of Yale, son Jeffrey Peer of Pennsylvania and daughter Michelle "Mickey" (Jeff) Conner of Wisconsin.

James Raymond Peer was born March 31, 1929 at Cooper, Iowa.  He was the son of Raymond and Velma Fern (Shultz) Peer.  Jim was raised in the Cooper area and graduated from high school there. 

On June 10, 1947 Jim entered the United States Navy.  He was a dispersing clerk, 2nd class, serving on the destroyer USS Charles R. Ware.  For a period of time, Jim and his four brothers all served on the same ship.  Jim was honorably discharged June 8, 1953. 

Jim worked at a gas company in Perry for a time, and also worked at Gilliland’s Implement in Bagley.  He was a barber in Des Moines, Bagley, and Yale.  He was employed by Panora Food Center at the time of his retirement, having worked there for 22 years. 

Jim was a member of the Coon Rapids Golf Course. In 1987, he shot a Hole-In-One and the event was announced on WOI TV Sports by his son-in-law, Jeff Conner. 

Jim raised and showed Arabian horses.  He belonged to the Grand Lodge of Iowa Masonic Temple, and was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 2203 in Greene County. 

Jim Peer died February 23, 2009 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines.  He was 79 years of age.  He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife V. Maxine Peer; two sisters: Phyllis Allen and Virginia Lannom; and four brothers: Donald Peer, Jack Peer, William Peer, and Richard Peer. 

Survivors include his children Jeffrey Peer of Pennsylvania and Michelle “Mickey” Conner of Wisconsin; special friend, Mary Ann Crabtree of Yale, IA; two sisters: Gloria Coons of Garden Grove, CA and Diane Cabelka of Yale, IA; and many nieces and nephews.