OBITUARY

James Cole

29 May, 1932 – 15 January, 2021

Dr. James Cole

A Celebration of Life Memorial Service for James W. “Jim” Cole M.D. 88, will be held Tuesday, January 26, 2021 at 11:00 am at the First United Methodist Church, with family gathering from 10:00 am until service time. The Rev. Prentiss (Bud) Gordan and Rev. Joe Landrum officiating.

Mask and social distance guide lines will be in place.

Jim served the church in a number of ways. He served several years on the Pastor Parish Committee, he served as a Greeter, Usher and always had a smile. Jim attributed his mother’s Christian love and prayers that he continued to remember as the beginning of his Christianity.

Jim grew up on a grain and dairy farm in Northwest Iowa, where at age six, he started helping his dad and brother milk dairy cows. In winter months he attended school, and in the summer months worked in the fields planting, hoeing, pulling weeds, gathering corn, putting up hay and thrashing oats. There was plenty to do in the two weeks’ vacation from school in the fall. Jim stated that the happiest day of his and his brother’s childhood was when they sold the dairy.

Two years after working on the farm after completion of high school, he enrolled in Simpson College near Des Moines, Iowa. After two years of college, Jim served his country in the US Army in the Korean War and operated heavy equipment, upon returning to the states he taught operation and maintenance of heavy equipment at Fort Leonard in Missouri. The last six months of his two years, he was a heavy equipment operator on the Kansas Turnpike.

After his two years in the service he enrolled at Southern Methodist University as a pre-med student. Jim completed his Pre-Med requirements and a BS degree in Chemistry. Jim attended SMU for three years and while there he met and married Jean Messersmith in 1958. They returned to Iowa where he completed his medical school at the University of Iowa.

After graduation Jim moved to Fresno CA., for a year internship and a year of general surgery residency. During that time Jim decided surgery was not his calling, he applied for urology residency and was accepted. In 1976 Jim married Shirley Cunningham and they started their private practice together where they continued for thirty years.

In 1990 Jim signed a ten-year contract with the US Air Force. After serving three months, Jim was promoted from Major to Lt. Colonel. This was a good time in life. While serving in the Air Force he met a urologist from Tupelo. Jim worked with the Tupelo group in Corinth. After three years Jim and Shirley split from the group and opened their private practice in Corinth. At his retirement in November 2018 he had completed 50 years as a urologist.

Jim is the son of the late George Wesley Cole and Muriel Elizabeth Fowler Cole, he was also preceded in death by his wife, Shirley and his son Bill Cole.

He is survived by his children, Marti Cole, Tracy Cole Lyons, Elizabeth Salow, Frank Cunningham, Chris Cunningham, Lisa Cunningham and thirteen grandchildren.

In lieu of flowers, memorial in Jim’s memory, please use a charity of your choice.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mcpetersfuneraldirectors.com for the Cole family.

Arrangements are under the care of McPeters Inc. Funeral Directors

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  • Family and Friends Gathering

    Tuesday, 26 January , 2021

  • Celebration of Life

    Tuesday, 26 January , 2021

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James Cole

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Nate Nerem

26 January 2021

Uncle Jim was truly one of a kind! Every time he came to Iowa we loved to play golf and go out to eat! I will miss catching up with him year in and year out! Love you always Uncle Jim! Please tell Pappa Cole hi for me.

Henrie Anderson

25 January 2021

Jim and my husband, Lorence, were best friends growing up. They rode motorcycles together and had some good stortes about it. Sorry to hear of his demise. I got his Christmas card which we exchanged every year.

Robert and Patsi Nystrom

25 January 2021

Jim was an integral part of each of our growing up years and continued to be a dear friend the rest of his/our lives. He was a member of our wedding party. Such a remarkably wonderful person and care-giver to many! We will love him forever, praying that we reunite in Paradise!
Our love to all,
Chesty and Patsi Nystrom

John Campbell

24 January 2021

I am very sorry to hear of the passing of Dr. Cole. Dr. Cole, John Cooper, and I served as an Usher duty group every fifth Sunday for many years. I always enjoyed performing the Usher duties with Dr. Cole as he was always very courteous. He will be certainly be missed. Blessings to his family.
Sincerely, John Campbell

Petey and Tammy Pace

23 January 2021

Jim and Shirley were two of our favorite people. Both will be forever missed and remembered.

Jeri Nerem

22 January 2021

Uncle Jim's summer visits to Iowa were full of fun, watching my boys play baseball, golfing with the boys and boating at our cabin. There was always time for telling stories and catching up with each family member. No visit was complete without enjoying a homemade butterscotch pie, Jim's favorite. We will remember his laugh, his smile and his love for family.

Cynthia Brandt

22 January 2021

My Uncle Jim was a special man. I enjoyed countless Memorial Day weekend festivities with him. I could count on Uncle Jim to be my Havelock historian and my parent's support when he would return to Iowa every year. We would have a great time talking about our conservative political views on each and every subject. I will truly miss him and his gentleness. He was a marvelous physician. He always wrote a personal note to me and my family each year at Christmas. I will cherish all my memories of Uncle Jim. I will see him in my heart playing golf with my dad as often as God will permit it.

JOSEPH Goodman

21 January 2021

Dr. Cole was my neighbor and my doctor. In both endeavors he excelled. His energy, especially when working in his yard with that wide brimmed hat on, was front and center in his life, second only to his love for Christ and his family!! Persons like Dr. Cole are few and far between, a great man and a greater father and Christian! He will be missed by many.

Neil Nerem

21 January 2021

Uncle Jim is the reason I am able to golf. He and I both swing from the left side. I will always appreciate how he cut down a set of his clubs, and sent them to Iowa just in time for my junior golf tournament. He will always have a special place in our hearts.

Paula V. Meeks

21 January 2021

I am a retired surgical tech from magnolia regional health center. My family and I had a surgical family cook out right after Dr. Cole came to Corinth and before Ms. Shirley came to Corinth to be with him. Dr. Cole came and enjoyed himself, we had homemade ice cream and that was all he talked about for the longest and always wanted to know when were we going to do it again. May you Rest In Peace and fly high Dr. Cole.

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