James “Jim” Sperfslage, 82, of Ames, formerly of Mediapolis, died Tuesday, August 13, 2024, at Green Hills Nursing Home after a 36-year battle with Parkinson’s disease.

He was born on July 22, 1942 in Burlington to Henry and Alice E. Schuler Sperfslage. On August 29, 1973, he married Joanne E. Breder in Kinshasa, Zaire in Africa.

He graduated from Mediapolis High School in 1960. He graduated from Burlington Junior College in 1963 and from the University of Iowa in 1967. Jim proudly served his country in the Army National Guard.

Jim worked as a production manager at Goodyear Tire for 30 years, spending 28 of those 30 years in factories in Germany, Zaire, Morocco, Malaysia and Thailand.

Jim loved muscle cars and country music. He was known for his big parties and loved planning them for all kinds of occasions. Jim had a big heart and never forgot where he came from. He will be greatly missed by his family and many friends around the world.

He is survived by his wife Joanne E. Sperfslage of Ames, IA, his son Kurt (Emily) Sperfslage of Ames, IA, his daughter Kristine (Corbin) Stone of Clive, IA and four grandchildren, Payton and Riley Sperfslage and Eleanor and Truman Stone.

His parents had died before him.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, August 18, 2024, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street.

Funeral services for Mr. Sperfslage will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 19, 2024, at Prugh Funeral Service, 3940 Division Street. Tom Lanz will officiate. There will be a time of food and fellowship immediately following the funeral in the Prugh Funeral Service community room. Interment will be in Kossuth Cemetery after lunch.

Memorials were erected for the Mediapolis Fire Department and the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

To send flowers to the family, please visit our flower shop.