James C. McCarl

September 24, 1928 — November 09, 2024

James McCarl

Service Details

James Curtis McCarl, 96, passed away Saturday, November 9, 2024 at his home at the Deerfield Retirement Community in Urbandale, Iowa.

Jim was born September 24, 1928 to Claude and Evelyn (Kasten) McCarl in Newton, Iowa. He graduated from the Newton Public Schools in 1947 and from Drake University in 1951 with a degree in Business Administration and a major in Accounting. Jim went to work for the public accounting firm of Haskins and Sells in Chicago while obtaining his C.P.A. certification. The Korean conflict caused his entry into the Army in December of 1952 and he spent the greater portion of the next two years in the audit division of Sixth Army Headquarters at the Presidio of San Francisco. Jim returned to Haskins and Sells in Chicago after his service. In 1957, he joined a public accounting firm in Ottumwa, Iowa and later joined State Automobile & Casualty Underwriters in Des Moines as Chief Accountant. In 1960, he joined the Farm Bureau Insurance companies of Des Moines and retired in 1983 as Vice President and Controller.

Jim met BettyAnn Nikolaisen at Lutheran Church of Hope where they were both active members. After a year of dating, they were married on September 6, 2001. Jim loved to travel, attend live theater, and dine at a variety of restaurants. He was an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a member of Lutheran Church of Hope, the Masonic Lodge in Newton, Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, and the West Des Moines Rotary Club.

He is survived by his wife, BettyAnn McCarl; and step-daughter, Joyce (Randy) Friederich of Waukee, Iowa.

A Celebration of Life will take place on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Lutheran Church of Hope, 925 Jordan Creek Parkway in West Des Moines with visitation one hour prior. Burial will be at Newton Union Cemetery in Newton, Iowa. If guests are not able to attend the service in person, the family invites friends to join them virtually by clicking the livestream link here CLICK HERE.

Memorial contributions may be directed to Lutheran Church of Hope in loving memory of Jim and condolences expressed at www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com.

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