James T. “Jim” Bell, 62, of Iola died Saturday, July 31, 2010, at Colmery-O’Neil Veterans Administration Medical Center in Topeka.
He was born Sept. 10, 1947, in Neosho Falls, to H.W. and Hellen L. (Blohm) Bell. The family moved to Iola when he was three years old. He graduated from Iola High School in 1965. He served in the U.S. Navy in Vietnam and returned to Iola following his honorable discharge.
He worked for the Iola Fire Department, in oil fields, as a mechanic and for the city of Iola.
He enjoyed rebuilding motorcycles and restored classic cars.
He was a member of Iola Elks.
He is survived by two daughters, Brenda Boeck and her husband, Jay, St. Clair, Mich., and Lori Hollis and her husband, Bob, Columbiaville, Mich.; his mother, Hellen Bell, Iola; four grandchildren, Jayson, Katlyn, Kevin and Sara; a brother, William and his wife, Marge, Wichita; and two sisters, Doris Peters and her husband, Pete, Iola, and Marie Davis and her husband, Gary, Cheney.
His father died earlier.
Cremation has taken place.
Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Waugh-Yokum & Friskel Memorial Chapels in Iola.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. Chaplain Lloyd W. Houk will officiate. Inurnment, with military honors, will be in Highland Cemetery.
Anyone who would like one last ride with Bell may bring their motorcycle to the service and ride in procession to the cemetery.
Online condolences for the family may be left at iolafuneral.com.
‘Jim’ Bell
