James VanWinkle

James L. VanWinkle, age 47, of Washington, Iowa, passed away suddenly on Saturday, June 15, 2024, at Mercy One Hospital in New Hampton, Iowa.

Funeral services will be held 10:30 a.m. Friday, June 21, 2024 at the United Methodist Church in Washington with Pastor Anthony DeVaughn officiating. Visiting hours will begin 2:00 p.m. Thursday, June 20th at the Jones & Eden Funeral Home where the family will be present to receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Interment will take place at the Elm Grove Cemetery in Washington. Memorials have been established for his children’s future education funds. Online condolences may be sent for Jim’s family at www.jonesfh.com

Jim was born January 19, 1977, in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, the son of Richard and Becky (Swailes) Van Winkle. He was an accomplished student and graduated from Mt. Pleasant High School in 1995, attended Southeastern Community College in Burlington, Iowa, and later graduated from the University of Iowa and later received his Doctorate from the University of Iowa School of Pharmacy.

Jim worked as a Nuclear Pharmacist for two years and later worked as a Hospital Pharmacist at the Ottumwa Regional Hospital and was the Director of Pharmacy at the Washington County Hospital and currently director at the Van Buren County Hospital. He served as a preceptor to many pharmacy students from the University. Jim was a pioneer and part owner of a pharmacy consulting firm JJRx whose mission was to improve the world of pharmacy. He was extremely gifted in problem solving and generating solutions in areas that other colleagues would not identify. Jim’s brilliant mind, dedication, and compassion combined set him apart in the pharmacy industry.

He was united in marriage to Kristin Kalvig on June 3, 2006, in Nashua, Iowa, and to this union three children were born. He cherished the time spent with his family and attending the many activities his children were involved in. He enjoyed writing, fishing, sailing, target shooting and helping his father-in-law farm. His vast interests led him to become a family renowned meat smoker, drone master, and a walking genealogy book of his family’s ancestry. His passion for travel led him all over the country and world. He loved to tinker with the settings on his camera to capture memories of his family and the many sights he visited. He loved cheering for the Iowa Hawkeyes and especially the women’s basketball team. He served on the advisory committee for the deaf and hard of hearing and was on the Legislative Advisory Committee for Iowa Pharmacy Association. He will be surely missed by all who knew him.

He was a member of the United Methodist Church. Jim is survived by his wife Kristin Van Winkle; children, Madison, Lincoln and Quincy VanWinkle of Washington; parents, Rick and Becky Van Winkle of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa; brother, Dan (Kira) Van Winkle and their children Grady and Cooper of Ottumwa, Iowa; Parents-in-law, Rex and Kathy Kalvig of Ionia, Iowa; and brother-in-law, Michael (Jill) Kalvig and their children Christopher, Elizabeth, Adrienne and Andrew of Nashua, Iowa.
He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents.