JAMES

JAMES "JIM" ZIRBEL (1948-2021) LOCAL #34 CHARLES CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT

05/07/2021

James “Jim” Zirbel

December 7, 1948 to May 7, 2021

James “Jim” Zirbel, 72, of Charles City, passed away Friday, May 7, 2021 at his home.

A private family funeral service for Jim Zirbel will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021 at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home in Charles City. Pastor Russ Leeper from Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church will officiate and burial will be at Riverside Cemetery in Charles City. The service will be live streamed on the Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home Facebook page at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday.

A public visitation will be held at Hauser Weishaar Funeral Home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Those in attendance are asked to wear a mask.

James “Jim” Lyle Zirbel, the son of Lyle and Betty (Hartfelder) Zirbel, was born December 7, 1948 in Mason City, Iowa. He graduated from Mason City High School in 1967 and attended NIACC for a few years to be an auto mechanic, but decided this was not the right profession for him.

Jim met Cindy Benedict at an insurance office and the couple was married on February 14, 1971 at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Mason City. This union was blessed with four children: Shelby, Katie, Benjamin and Nicholas. Cindy passed away in 2004 as the result of an automobile accident.

On July 4, 2005, Jim married Susan (Henke) Nelson at Merten Klaus Park in Charles City. They made their home in Charles City and shared many great years together with wonderful memories.

Whether it was as a Des Moines Register paperboy or the Chief of Police, Jim took great pride in all of the jobs he held. He began his law enforcement career in Mason City for one year (1972) before joining the Charles City Police Department in 1973 and retiring as Chief of Police in 2002. Jim worked his way through the ranks as Patrolman, Lieutenant, Captain and finally Chief.

Jim was a member of Saint John Evangelical Lutheran Church, the United Way Board, Floyd County Civil Service Commission, HUD Board, Family Community Credit Union Board, Saint John Parish Life and church council, Meals on Wheels Board and the Iowa Chief of Police Association.

Jim enjoyed his 1967 BMW Motorcycle, his John Deere lawn mower and volunteering his time at the Charles Theater, Meals on Wheels and ringing the bell for Salvation Army.

Living family members include his wife, Suzi; three children: Shelby Zirbel (Joel Pals), Katie Zirbel and Nicholas (Lacey) Zirbel; daughter-in-law, Anna Williams (Brad); step-children: Jason Nelson, Lisa (Khan) Kammerer and Joshua (Shannon) Nelson; grandchildren: Anthony Zirbel, Jamison Zirbel, Emma Zirbel, Ethan Zirbel, Aria Zirbel, Lauren Kammerer, Jack Kammerer, John Nelson and Jackson Steege; and great-grandson, Cameron Zirbel.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; step-mother, Ann; first wife, Cindy; son, Benjamin Zirbel; brother, Jerry Zirbel; and mother and father-in-law, Jean and Ed Benedict.

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