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Dr. James David Kimball, 85, of Osceola died on December 17, 2024. He was born in Des Moines to Maxine McPherson Kimball and Warren Kimball on January 7, 1939. He was raised in Murray, attended school in Murray, and graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire in 1957. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Zoology from Grinnell College in 1960 and his medical degree from the University of Iowa in 1964. He completed his internship at Walter Reed General Hospital in 1965 and then served as a Major in the US Army, 25th Infantry Division in Hawaii and VietNam, and the 85th Evacuation Hospital in VietNam.
He returned from VietNam and joined the Clarke County Medical Clinic in Osceola where he was the physician for a multitude of Clarke County residents from 1968 to 1984 and served as the Clarke County Medical Examiner from 1969 to 1984. He was Chief of Staff at Clarke County Hospital and the Medical Director of the Clarke County Ambulance from 1974 to 1984. In 1985, he became the Associate Director and then Director of the Family Practice Residency Program and Emergency Medicine Program at Broadlawns Medical Center until 1992, where he continued to serve the patients and trained numerous Family Practice Residents until he retired in 2000. Medicine and service to others was his passion and his calling.
He was married to Mary Ellen Kimball (deceased December 20, 2024) on March 2, 1963. Jim was dedicated to and passionately supported his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents and extended family members including his beloved Aunt Elleen McPherson Wheatley and cousin Monte Smith.
He is survived by his sons Jeffrey Deur Kimball (Eva) of Budapest, Hungary and Dr. Joseph McPherson Kimball (Dr. Amy) of Winterset; sister-in-law Sally Ann Foss Reavely (Tom) of Norwalk, and brother-in-law Dr. Robert (Bob) Eugene Foss (Lisa) of Van Meter; grandchildren David Nicholas Kimball (Danielle) of Temple, TX, Dr. Anna Krisztina Kimball of Budapest, Hungary, Jackson McPherson Kimball and Madeline Rae Kimball of Winterset; great-grandchildren Samuel James Kimball, Panni Horvath-Kimball and step-great grandchildren Bridget and Sydney, many treasured cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, as well as countless amazing and dear friends he considered family.
His numerous contributions and accomplishments would easily comprise a book if not a series. Jim demonstrated his dedication and passion for helping others starting in his military career. He was the medcap officer and ran the Medical Civil Action Program while in VietNam and spearheaded the development, supply and staffing of a local hospital for the Vietnamese in the Chuchi province. This project received the attention of Morley Safer and the story was aired by Walter Cronkite. He also served at the 85th EVAC hospital where he again found a need and worked with a group of Scottish Nuns to assist them in caring for the local leper colony. He contracted tuberculosis and was sent to Fitzsimmons Hospital in Denver for a year in isolation. He received the Bronze Star for his service.
Jim was a Charter Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians, served many boards and organizations and actively supported volunteer medical projects in Iowa throughout his medical career. He served on the Clarke County Hospital Foundation Board, prominently in the Iowa Medical Society, as Director of the Polk County Medical Society, delegate to the American Academy of Family Physicians, and President of the Iowa Academy of Family Physicians from 1989 to 1990. He volunteered his time teaching and serving on numerous councils and boards. He was a Senior Aviation Medical Examiner and enjoyed sharing his love of flying with pilots from all over Iowa. His service was celebrated with many awards including the Iowa Medical Society Physician’s Community Service Award in 2000 and the Lifetime Achievement Award by the Academy in 2002.
If he wasn’t serving the community through medicine, he could be found flying his Bellanca or one of his many airplanes, including the experimental Kit Fox he built with family and friends, performing on stage, hosting the “Dr. Jim Show” on KSOI-91.9 FM, supporting one of many projects or organizations he was passionate about, or on the golf course. He was especially dedicated to ensuring the economic development and community betterment of Osceola and Clarke County and served on the Clarke County Development Corporation and the Water Boards, as well as in many other capacities. He helped establish the Osceola Municipal Golf Course after purchasing the course from the previous Country Club and coordinating the transfer to the city of Osceola along with new trees and a parking lot. Jim actively assisted the success of the Revelton Distilling Company and obtained his CDL in order to maintain the Osceola Municipal Airport as the snowplow driver.
He wrote, produced and acted in many stage performances including “Twelve Angry Men” at the Des Moines Community Playhouse, “The Waiting Room” on Iowa Public Television, “Warrior Osceola” in Clarke County, and a walk-on part in “Wicked” at the Des Moines Civic Center. He received numerous honors including as Iowan of the Day at the 2008 Iowa State Fair, and being celebrated as one of “Eight Over 80″ honorees at the University of Iowa in 2024.