Hawkeye Whirrett

June 23, 1948 - May 3, 2018

James William Whirrett, 69, left this earth peacefully at Hospice House in Ottumwa on May 3, 2018 surrounded by family and friends. Jim; Dad; Hawkeye; Pa; Hawk; was born in Ottumwa to Glenn William and Margaret Grace Grim Whirrett on June 23, 1948. He had one sibling, Jane Anne who always called him Buddy. Hawkeye attended Pulaski School until it closed when he was in 6th grade. He then attended and graduated from Davis County High School. He was a member of the FFA during high school and had a prized heifer, Baby Doll, he liked to show. She would later be his first cow of a small angus herd. He grew up on the family farm which would later become the Whirrett Century Farm. Here is where his appreciation for tractors, farming, gardening, and livestock came from. After graduating, he moved to Columbia, Missouri where he worked at a gas station for a few weeks until he was old enough to be hired on at Automatic Electric, a company that manufactured and installed telephone equipment. He united in marriage to Euarda “Ardie” Elaine Wilfawn on June 24, 1967. Together they had three children; Michelle Elaine, James Thomas, and Michael Scott. The couple would later divorce. Hawkeye continued a long career working for different telephone companies and had many travels with his work. Early on in his career he worked with people from different states and this was where they started calling him “Hawkeye” because he was from Iowa. It stuck and even to this day a lot of people did not know his real name. Some of the companies he worked for were Grand River Mutual in Leon, Iowa, Sullivan and Moore, Microtel, and a company in Van Alstyne, Texas. He was the telephone coordinator for the Rodney Anderson Company in Dallas, Texas. He was always known to have a good technical knowledge of the telephone business and was called often to troubleshoot. He had the reputation of a hard worker. He would unite in marriage to Debra Leanna Nash Black on November 29, 1985. They resided in Sherman, Texas along with children Christopher and Leanna Nash. They later divorced. Hawkeye would eventually return to the family farm and cared for his mother. He would take her to see his dad almost everyday until he passed. After his mom passed he continued to care for a dear friend in Bloomfield, Jerry Tharp. They spent a lot of time together in the “Doghouse.” During this time, he had a very special lady come into his life, Mary Russell. They resided in Bloomfield. They enjoyed spending time together on their porch with the wood stove in the winter and the windows open in the spring. They just enjoyed doing things they both loved to do. They drove many miles on adventures and “gravel travels” admiring nature. They loved hunting for things to shoot with their camera. They created many memories in their too short time together. Hawkeye always enjoyed working with old machinery. He purchased a 1936 B John Deere Tractor in Texas and had it hauled to Mt. Pleasant, Iowa to the Old Threshers Reunion. He spent several years attending and camping at Old Threshers. He was given a radio so he could be contacted to do many different odd jobs there. He mainly demonstrated operation of a stationary hay press that was built in the 1930’s. Hawkeye loved the great outdoors. Hunting, fishing, camping, and campfires. He loved cooking and smoking foods and sharing his creations. His hams were the best. He liked to bring people together. He could always entertain with the stories and jokes he would tell. He has a dear friend from Texas, Joel Bassett. They spent a lot of time together. There were stories told that Bassett would say he was sure Hawkeye didn’t tell it right and go on to tell how it “really happened.” Hawkeye developed many great bonds and friendships over the years. One of the true passions he found in his life was the Buckskinners. He owned skins and even went on a buffalo hunt and carried out the tradition of his handprint in blood from the kill on his skins. He learned and gained an appreciation for the native American ways. Hawkeye lived his life his way and found peace with it. Fly high in the heavens, Hawkeye. “Take nothing but memories, leave nothing but footprints.” Chief Seattle He is survived by his children; Michelle (Lennie) Rumley, James (Jennifer) Whirrett, Michael (Sara) Whirrett; grandchildren, Kallie (Kyle) Stoll, Dalton (Blake) Rumley, Makenzie (Tate) Rumley, Lyal (Katlyn) Whirrett, Kelsi Whirrett, Christopher Whirrett, Trey Beers, Gage Beers, Lane Whirrett; great-grandchildren, Sawyer Stoll, Emersyn Stoll, Scottlyn Rumley, Daxsyn Whirrett; spiritual wife, Mary Russell; her family, Bill (Amy) Russell, Joey (Jen) Russell, Amy Russell; her grandchildren, Dalton, Leah, Jake, Madison, Alaya; his sister, Jane Anne (Richard) Moore; nieces, Lindy Moore, Lorie (Brian) Lawthers; great-nieces, Reagan, Sydney, Grace; great-nephew, Will; and many other family and friends. A vigil will be held at the Des Moines River at 319 Black Hawk Rd., Lot 24, Ottumwa, Iowa on May 19, 2018 at 6:00 p.m. Bring chairs, tents, a side dish, and help celebrate Hawkeye’s life with us around the campfire.