Pastor Jim Stiles

August 22, 1942 - March 19, 2018

Pastor Jim Stiles, age 75, of Washington, Iowa, died suddenly on Monday, March 19, 2018, at the Washington County Hospital. Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 24, 2018, at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Rev. Kwang Song and Rev. Lillian Gallo Seagren officiating. Calling hours will begin 3:00 p.m. Friday, March 23rd at the United Methodist Church where the family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for “Night to Shine” or IAC Nigeria Water Project. The Jones & Eden Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to Jim’s family at www.jonesfh.com. James William Stiles was born August 22, 1942, in Charles City, Iowa, the son of Charles and Helen (Erickson) Stiles. He graduated from Charles City High School in 1960 and attended William Penn College in Oskaloosa graduating in 1964. Jim attended the Methodist Theological School in Deleware, Ohio. He was united in marriage to Jeanette Letts on August 8, 1964, in Alhambra, California. Jim had a passion for ministry. He served the Killduff Methodist Church, Reasoner Methodist Church and Mt. Zion Methodist Church while living in Killduff, Iowa; St. Mark’s Methodist Church while in Council Bluffs, Iowa; he was the Associate Pastor at First Methodist Church in Cedar Falls, Iowa; Associate Pastor of Ames Collegiate Church in Ames, Iowa; served the Spirit Lake Methodist Church in Spirit Lake, Iowa; the First Methodist Church in Mason City, Iowa; the Washington United Methodist Church in Washington, Iowa; and was currently serving Finley Chapel in rural Wayland, Iowa. His ministry included calling on parishioners, delivering flowers, and taking the youth of the church on mission trips. He led many mission trips to the Appalachia Service Project and also to Arkansas where he participated in the Heifer Project. He also took youth of the church on educational trips to Washington D.C. He enjoyed being outside serving the community by raking leaves, mowing grass, and shoveling driveways. He was often seen riding his bike around town in his red collegiate letter jacket. Jim was a member of the Washington Ministerial Association, and coordinated the Annual Bell Ringing for the Salvation Army. Jim organized the Special Needs Dinner and Dance at the Methodist Church for many years and was instrumental in the Night to Shine Event. He is survived by his wife, Jan Stiles of Washington, Iowa; daughter, Jami Shelbrock and husband Craig and their children, Easton, Trey, Madison and Jayden of Plainfield, Illinois; son, Jeff Stiles and wife Heather and their children, Anya, Kiera, and Micah Stiles of St. Louis, Missouri; twin sister, Jane Johnson and husband Harvey of Rochester, Minnesota; brother, John Stiles of Lewiston, Minnesota; and sister Jean Christensen and husband Randy of Mason City, Iowa. Jim was preceded in death by his parents and one sister-in-law, Roberta Stiles.