1939
Mr.
2023
Mr. James Bireline
January 5, 1939 — July 6, 2023
James Arthur Bireline was born on January 5, 1939, at the Adair Hospital to Art and Emma (Heckman) Bireline. He grew up on the Bireline family farm north of Adair and attended schools in the Adair area, graduating from Adair High School in 1957. He married his high school sweetheart, Jean Noland, on November 23, 1957, and they lived on the family farm in the “little house,” where they farmed in partnership with Jim’s parents for many years. In 1970, they moved to the “big house” where Jim and Jean raised their family and took over the farming operation. He fed cattle from a very young age, finishing up to 400 head of cattle a year for decades. He and Jean remained on the family farm until recently selling their home to next-generation Birelines - Alex and Emma. The Bireline family farm will be a Heritage family farm in 2027, carrying on its proud family farming tradition.
Jim was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church until it closed, serving as a church officer and elder for much of that time. He is now a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair. He was a Grant Sky Eagles 4-H leader while his children were growing up and continued to support his grandchildren every year at Guthrie County Fair. He was a Production Credit Association (PCA) board member through the 1980s farm crisis. He was profoundly affected by the farm crisis and its impact on fellow farmers and friends, sharing lessons learned with many young farmers. He also served on the Adair Fire Board for many years, representing Audubon Township.
His kids & his grandkids were his pride and joy. Jean & Jim very rarely missed a sporting event or activity and chose not to “winter away” because they wanted to stay and cheer everyone on over the years. He loved farming, family, playing pitch, and cribbage. He played (usually as the pitcher) in a local fast-pitch softball league and, then, the Adair City League - where he participated long enough to share the field with his son, son-in-law, and grandsons. He was proud that the St. John’s team could call themselves “the champ” off-and-on over the years. He knew no strangers, making friends wherever he went, including at the blackjack table. He could talk to anyone, tell interesting stories, make people laugh, and share memories with anyone and everyone.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Emma Bireline; his parents-in-law, Charles and Dora Noland; sister, Marilyn Chesnut; brothers-in-law, Ray Chestnut, Neil Lundy, and Rex Noland; his niece, Melody Rubel; great-nephew, Aaron Rubel, and great-niece, Stacey Carney.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Steve Bireline and wife, Tammy, Linda Mackrill and husband, Kurk, and Lori Westergaard, all of Adair; grandchildren, Wes and Jenny Mackrill of Waukee, Jason Huss and Amanda Bireline of Casey; Tracy Mackrill of Adair, Marcus and Stef (Bireline) Fagan and Chris and Tessa Bireline, all of Adair; Andrew Mackrill and significant other, Rebecca Wallace, of Adair; Brett Westergaard and fiancee, Taylor Paulsen, of Casey; Alex and Emma Bireline of Adair, Brenna Westergaard and fiancee, Brett Trecker, of Rosell, and Connor Westergaard of Ankeny. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, Cydney Shriver and husband, Eric, of Harlan; Saige Huss of Avoca; Hauper and Sayer Bireline-Huss of Casey; Monroe, Nixon, and Lettie Fagan, Reu and Beau Bireline, and Banks Bireline, all of Adair; and great-great-grandson, Ezra Shriver; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Open visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair, IA.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at St. John's Lutheran Church northwest of Adair, IA, with Pastor Kyle Fever officiating. Interment will be held at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery northwest of Adair. A luncheon will be held at the Adair Community Building following the committal service at the cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Jim Bireline Family. They will be designated to the new show barn at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds and may be mailed to the Schmidt Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Pallbearers will be: Wes Mackrill, Chris Bireline, Andrew Mackrill, Brett Westergaard, Alex Bireline, and Connor Westergaard
Honorary pallbearers will be: Amanda Bireline, Tracy Mackrill, Stef Fagan, Brenna Westergaard
Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair, IA.
Jim was an active member of St. John’s Lutheran Church until it closed, serving as a church officer and elder for much of that time. He is now a member of the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Adair. He was a Grant Sky Eagles 4-H leader while his children were growing up and continued to support his grandchildren every year at Guthrie County Fair. He was a Production Credit Association (PCA) board member through the 1980s farm crisis. He was profoundly affected by the farm crisis and its impact on fellow farmers and friends, sharing lessons learned with many young farmers. He also served on the Adair Fire Board for many years, representing Audubon Township.
His kids & his grandkids were his pride and joy. Jean & Jim very rarely missed a sporting event or activity and chose not to “winter away” because they wanted to stay and cheer everyone on over the years. He loved farming, family, playing pitch, and cribbage. He played (usually as the pitcher) in a local fast-pitch softball league and, then, the Adair City League - where he participated long enough to share the field with his son, son-in-law, and grandsons. He was proud that the St. John’s team could call themselves “the champ” off-and-on over the years. He knew no strangers, making friends wherever he went, including at the blackjack table. He could talk to anyone, tell interesting stories, make people laugh, and share memories with anyone and everyone.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Art and Emma Bireline; his parents-in-law, Charles and Dora Noland; sister, Marilyn Chesnut; brothers-in-law, Ray Chestnut, Neil Lundy, and Rex Noland; his niece, Melody Rubel; great-nephew, Aaron Rubel, and great-niece, Stacey Carney.
He is survived by his wife, Jean; children, Steve Bireline and wife, Tammy, Linda Mackrill and husband, Kurk, and Lori Westergaard, all of Adair; grandchildren, Wes and Jenny Mackrill of Waukee, Jason Huss and Amanda Bireline of Casey; Tracy Mackrill of Adair, Marcus and Stef (Bireline) Fagan and Chris and Tessa Bireline, all of Adair; Andrew Mackrill and significant other, Rebecca Wallace, of Adair; Brett Westergaard and fiancee, Taylor Paulsen, of Casey; Alex and Emma Bireline of Adair, Brenna Westergaard and fiancee, Brett Trecker, of Rosell, and Connor Westergaard of Ankeny. He is also survived by great-grandchildren, Cydney Shriver and husband, Eric, of Harlan; Saige Huss of Avoca; Hauper and Sayer Bireline-Huss of Casey; Monroe, Nixon, and Lettie Fagan, Reu and Beau Bireline, and Banks Bireline, all of Adair; and great-great-grandson, Ezra Shriver; and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Open visitation with the family present will be held from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, at the Schmidt Family Funeral Home in Adair, IA.
Funeral service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 12, 2023, at St. John's Lutheran Church northwest of Adair, IA, with Pastor Kyle Fever officiating. Interment will be held at the St. John's Lutheran Cemetery northwest of Adair. A luncheon will be held at the Adair Community Building following the committal service at the cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the Jim Bireline Family. They will be designated to the new show barn at the Guthrie County Fairgrounds and may be mailed to the Schmidt Funeral Home P.O. Box 523, Atlantic, IA 50022.
Pallbearers will be: Wes Mackrill, Chris Bireline, Andrew Mackrill, Brett Westergaard, Alex Bireline, and Connor Westergaard
Honorary pallbearers will be: Amanda Bireline, Tracy Mackrill, Stef Fagan, Brenna Westergaard
Funeral arrangements are handled with the Schmidt Family Funeral Home of Adair, IA.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Mr. James Bireline, please visit our flower store.
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