James A Gatchel

James “Jim” A. Gatchel, 97, of Garner, passed away Tuesday, July 8, 2025, at Concord Care Center in Garner.

A funeral service will be held at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, July 15, 2025, at Garner United Methodist Church. Burial will be at Concord Township Cemetery in Garner.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 6 p.m., Monday, July 14th at Garner United Methodist Church and will continue one hour prior to services at the church.

James Allen Gatchel was born on March 19, 1928, on a farm east of Britt. He was the son of John T. and Ivy (Thorne) Gatchel. Jim was baptized in the Methodist Church in Britt and confirmed in the Methodist Church in Garner. He graduated from Garner High School in 1946. While in high school, Jim was active in the Future Farmers of America. He served as a state secretary in 1946-47 and state president in 1947-48. He sponsored a student to attend the National FFA Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C. for 18 years. He received the Iowa Farmer and American Farmer degrees. He attended Iowa State University for one year and had to return home due to family illness.

Jim married Kathryn Raw on August 29, 1947, at the Garner Methodist Church. Jim and Kathryn started school together in kindergarten and graduated together. To this union was born four children: Mary, Luann, David, and Carol. Jim farmed the home farm east of Garner. He joined Farm Bureau Insurance on March 1, 1962, and later joined Elling Insurance on June 1, 1964. Jim purchased the agency on January 1, 1974, and the business became Jim Gatchel Insurance Agency, Inc. Jim and Kathryn enjoyed traveling and took many interesting vacations as a couple and with their four kids in tow.

Jim was a member of the United Methodist Church and served as a certified Lay speaker for 40 years. He filled pulpits in local and area churches as well as in the Methodist Chapels in High Bickington, England, and Littleham, England, and at the Church of the Holy Cross in Crediton, England. Jim joined the Masons, Bethel Lodge in 1965. When he served as Master of the Lodge, the organization received the Lodge of the Year award in 2004. He became a 32nd-degree Mason and a member of the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. Jim joined the Garner Lions Club in 1957. This was the beginning of a long and satisfying reward for Jim, filling different roles in the local club as well as in District and International Lions activities.

Jim is survived by his four children, Mary (Bob) Sniezek, Luann (Randy) Smit, David Gatchel, and Carol (Bill) McClintock; seven grandchildren, Laura (Tim) Schmidt, Abby Moore, Nathan (Drew) Sniezek, Jerrod (Lauren) Smit, Kyrstin (Luke) Selvik, Lindsay McClintock (Luke Kronstedt), and Grace (Alec) Hannover; seven step-grandchildren; ten great grandchildren, Ayren, Ava, Madison, Emma, Jackson, Cooper Kathryn, Carson, Kinsley, Colt and Harper; one step-great grandchild; his sister, Emma Lou Stayner; sisters-in-law, Norma Collier and Jan Raw; close family friend, Louise Piper; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife of 69 years, Kathryn; his parents; two brothers; and two sisters.