James Pittman Obituary

James Dudley Pittman, 84, died on September 27, 2024, at Brio of Johnston. Jim is finally at peace after a nine-year battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Jim Pittman was born on May 9, 1940, to Charley & Willie Pittman. He grew up in Unionville, Missouri and graduated from Unionville High School in 1958. Jim worked in the family trucking business driving his own semi-truck nationwide until he went to college in 1960. He continued to drive his truck on weekends and summers throughout his college years. He attended Northeast Missouri State in Kirksville, Missouri and graduated in 1964 with a B.S. degree in accounting. While in college, he met the love of his life, Karen Burns. They were married in Corydon, IA on May 24, 1964, and just celebrated 60 years of marriage.

Jim was a spiritual man discovering his faith as a child and becoming a baptized member of the Unionville Christian Church. After he and Karen were married and moved to Des Moines, they belonged to Aldersgate United Methodist Church in Urbandale. Jim enjoyed leading an adult Sunday School class for over 20 years where he and Karen made life-long friends.

Jim began his professional career at Peat Marwick Mitchell & Co, working in their Des Moines office for 14 years until 1978. Following that tenure, he was a partner in two different local firms until he founded Pittman & Company, LLP in 1984. Jim concluded 50 years in the CPA profession when he retired from practice in 2014.

In 1999, Jim became an avid classic car enthusiast after purchasing a rare edition 1956 Cadillac. He established the Iowa CrossRoads region of the Cadillac & Lasalle Club (CLC) and served as the Director for 15 years from 1999 to 2014. In 2005, Jim chaired the effort to have the Iowa CrossRoads region host the CLC Grand National convention. This event brought over 500 attendees to Des Moines and featured over 300 classic Cadillac & LaSalle automobiles. Jim served several years on the national Board of Directors of both the national Cadillac & LaSalle Club and the CLC Museum & Research Center. His hard work and dedication have had a tremendous impact on raising funds, awareness, and appreciation for Cadillac & LaSalle automobiles worldwide.

Throughout the years, Jim held memberships in a number of professional and civic organizations including: American Institute of CPAs, Iowa Society of CPAs, Iowa Accounting & Finance Council, Northwest Des Moines Rotary, Urbandale Chamber of Commerce, Unionville Masonic Lodge, Scottish Rite Consistory, Za-Ga-Zig Shrine, Royal Order of Jesters, Cadillac & LaSalle Club and the Cadillac LaSalle Museum & Research Center.

Jim and Karen enjoyed get-togethers with friends and colleagues, often having a set dinner date and time every month. More over, every Tuesday since 1995, was set-aside for John to meet them for lunch at Palmer’s Deli. Everyone at Palmer’s knew his standing order was “The Dude” sandwich and usually a “Neiman Marcus” cookie for dessert. It was a quick lunch but more so a chance to spend quality time together as a family on a weekly basis. In retirement though, his longest-standing group was his morning coffee club where each day they solved most of the world’s problems.

Jim’s most favorite pastime, however, was spending time with his grandson, Nick. “Papa” attended most every sporting event of Nick’s from basketball, baseball, and of course, golf tournaments. Nick spent many weekend nights with his grandparents when Papa would teach him many life lessons. They would have cut-throat miniature golf duals, rousing pool games, and an organ lesson here and there. Papa also taught Nick some of the finer things in life like driving his Cadillac (at a very young age!) and dunking Oreos in a cold glass of milk. Before Jim was Papa, he was Dad. He loved his only son, teaching, and mentoring John to be like him—an accomplished CPA, a loving and attentive husband, and a doting dad. Papa/Dad/Jim fulfilled life’s greatest treasure in giving and receiving love and his legacy continues in the family he leaves behind.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Karen. His son, John Pittman (Amy) and grandson Nicholas Pittman (fiancée Courtney Schenkelberg). He is also survived by his brother C.B. Pittman, his sister-in-law Betty Empey, nieces Dr. Dawn Anne Fairley and Dayna Christopher, and nephew Patrick Pittman. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, mother-in-law Maxine Burns, brothers/sisters-in-law Robert Burns, Alice Pittman, Jerry and Phyllis Burns.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 pm on Friday, October 4th at Westover Funeral Home. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am on Saturday, October 5th at Westover Funeral Home with Rev. Tom Boomershine officiating. A lunch reception will be held immediately afterwards at the funeral home. Burial will be later that afternoon at McDivitt Grove Cemetery in Urbandale.

In honor of Jim’s memory, contributions may be made to the following: The Shriner’s Children’s Hospital and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Arrangements by Iles Westover Chapel

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