Funeral Mass for Jim Elbert will be celebrated at 11:00 A.M. on Monday, April 29, 2024, at Divine Mercy Parish – St. Cecelia Catholic Church. Burial will take place at St. Michael’s Catholic Cemetery, rural Whittemore. Military honors will be conducted by American Legion Hagg-Turner Post #90 and V.F.W. Howard D. Omdahl Post #2541. Visitation will be held from 3:00 to 6:00 P.M. on Sunday, April 28, 2024, at Oakcrest Funeral Services in Algona. A rosary will be recited at 2:45 P.M. The service will be live streamed on the Divine Mercy Catholic Parish YouTube page.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to Divine Mercy Parish – St. Cecelia Catholic Church, PO Box 633, Algona, IA 50511 or Bishop Garrigan Catholic Schools, 1224 N. McCoy Street, Algona, IA 50511.
James Peter, son of Raymond and Marie (Fandel) Elbert, was born on April 23, 1938, in Whittemore, Iowa. He graduated from the Presentation Academy in Whittemore in 1956. On November 19, 1960, he was united in marriage with Patricia Kollasch at St. Michael’s Catholic Church in Whittemore.
Jim was a National Guard member for over six years. He was employed by various local businesses throughout the years, including Butch’s DX Station, Elbert Chevrolet, Kossuth Motor Company, Moorman Feed Sales, Dr. T.J. Lensing selling veterinary supplies, Joe Bradley Equipment and Kemna Motor in Bancroft. He retired in 2000. After his retirement, Jim still picked up and delivered vehicles for Kemna Motor.
Jim enjoyed fishing, golfing, putzing in his woodworking shop and spending time with the grandchildren and great grandchildren. A family gathering was never complete without a competitive game of cards, typically Euchre or Up and Down the River. He also loved to bowl. He was a member of several bowling teams over the years. Jim bowled a 300, every bowler’s dream, on September 26, 1995. Jim was a member of St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Algona where he and his wife, Pat, were funeral ushers for many years. He was also the church’s handyman.
Jim was a friend to everyone. He loved to talk to everyone he encountered. There were many times when leaving an event that Pat would get to the door and turn around and wonder why he wasn’t right behind her.
Jim had a lot of “Jim-isms”. “Behave yourself” were his words of wisdom. One of his favorites that he would say to his grandchildren when they were leaving was “Glad you got to see me today.” When fishing, he never divulged his fishing secrets, always answering that he ‘caught the fish in the mouth with a hook from a boat on the lake’. Jim followed his children and grandchildren when playing sports, always being their greatest fan. He was a lifelong fan of baseball following the Braves and the Twins “twinkies”. He enjoyed college basketball, always rooting for the local college teams only declaring who his favorite was if they were not playing another state of Iowa team. Amaretto and Diet Coke was the beverage of choice when playing cards even though he secretly was more of a fan of Pepsi than Coke when Pat wasn’t around.
Jim died April 25, 2024, at Kossuth Regional Health Center in Algona at the age of 86.
Survivors include his wife Pat of Algona, children: Julie Opdahl of Norwalk, Douglas (Jennifer) Elbert of Grimes, Steven Elbert of West Des Moines, Jolene (John) Lensing of Clive, and Christie (Curt) Berte of Livermore; 11 grandchildren: Jenna (Garrett) Dickinson of West Des Moines, Brett (Lydia) Opdahl of Grimes, Cody Elbert of Iowa City, Tom Lensing of Des Moines, Sheridan (Bryce) Eick of Waverly, Nick (Anna) Lensing of Des Moines, Victor (Christine) Berte of LuVerne, Spencer Elbert of Des Moines, Anna Lensing of West Des Moines, Donovan Berte of Waverly and Rozlyn Elbert of Ames; and 7 great grandchildren with two on the way. Also surviving are Jim’s sister Helen Casey, brother and sister-in-law Ray and Carrie Elbert and sister-in-law Rosie Elbert.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, daughter Pamela Elbert, brother Dennis Elbert, sister and brother-in-law Alice and Gale Stone, and brother-in-law Marion Casey.
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