James Petrick

James Edward "Jim" Petrick, 53, died Saturday, March 6, 2004, in his Mount Vernon home after a long illness. Memorial services 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, at Morgan Funeral and Cremation Choices, Mount Vernon Chapel by the Reverend Emory Gillespie. Friends may call Tuesday from noon until time of service in the chapel. Burial of the cremated remains will be in Mount Vernon Memorial Cemetery. Surviving Jim is his mother Martha, a sister Sherry Gillam Edmund, and a brother Mike, a niece Dr. Deborah Strauss all of Mount Vernon, and nephew William "Bill" Strauss of Omaha. Preceding Jim in death was his father Eddie, his grandparents, Jim and Marie Petrick, and George and Emma Hinrichs. Jim was born December 6, 1950 in Cedar Rapids, the first son of Edward and Martha Hinrichs Petrick. He received his education in the Mount Vernon schools. Jim drove semis from coast to coast and in later years, was self-employed doing carpenter work and general construction. Jim was also employed by ADM in Cedar Rapids for several years. Jim was an artistic and sensitive person. He was a perfectionist at anything he did. He loved music, the outdoors, fishing and his best friends Dominic and Pudder, his cats. He was a quiet, private and gentle man. Despite Jim's many handicaps and limitations in his final years, he should be greatly admired for his strength of character, his vigilance and his will to maintain his independence, living in his own home until the time of his death. His passing was peaceful and shared by his family. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Jim's honor may be mailed to Martha Petrick, 223 1st St. W., Mount Vernon, Iowa, 52314.