James J. Pals

James J. Pals, 74, of Belmond, died Monday, December 26, 2016 at Mercy Medical Center in Mason City. Family will greet family and friends at a memorial gathering for James J. Pals from 10:00 – 11:30 A.M. Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Leinbach Center, 116 Luick’s Lane in Belmond. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 P.M. Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Leinbach Center in Belmond. James Joel Pals was born at Belmond, Iowa, on October 1, 1942, to Joe and Mourine Pals. He attended and graduated from the Belmond Community Schools in 1960. A graduate of the University of Northern Iowa with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English and Speech, Jim taught high school English and Speech at the West Hancock (Britt) Community Schools for forty years, retiring in 2004. Jim was also an adjunct English instructor for NIACC for many years. While living in Britt, Jim was an active member of the Hancock County Little Theater, Hancock County Historical Society, and the Britt Public Library board of directors. For four years Jim served as the director of religious education for St. Patrick Catholic Church in Britt. Jim was also a field contract inspector for the Pioneer Hi Bred International Seed Company for fifteen summers. After his retirement, Jim returned to Belmond where he was a member of the Belmond Chapter of the Wright County Historical Society. Jim enjoyed family genealogy, local history, crossword puzzles, and collecting antiques and pictures of the rural schools of Wright and Hancock Counties. Jim is survived by a son Joel (Shelby) of Belmond, a daughter Nicole (Brandon) of Oakland; two sisters Joan Carroll, Osage, and Carol (Roland) Lerdal, Berne, Ind.; one brother David (Marlys) Pals of Cedar Falls; and granddaughter Aria. Jim's family is establishing a memorial fund which will provide an opportunity for teachers in the West Hancock School District to seek funding for classroom projects and student activities. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Jim Pals Memorial Fund.