Jim Allen Gaskill, 72, of 509 E. Fourth St. died at 12:02 p.m. August 1, 2012 at Hospice House in Ottumwa.

He was born April 19, 1940 in Maryville, MO to Arthur and Ethel Burnsworth Gaskill. He married Mary Meyer on February 22, 1962 at St. Gregory’s Catholic Church in Maryville, MO.

Jim was a 1958 graduate of Maryville High School, and he was a trooper in the Iowa State Patrol for 28 years, retiring in 1993. He had been a partner with Gullett Fence and had worked for Meyers Appliance.

He was a member of St. Mary of the Visitation and enjoyed spending time with friends at Wayne’s Tire. He loved his grandkids.

Surviving are his wife, Mary; three daughters, Kathy Gaskill and Brenda (Joe) Curran both of Ottumwa, Alicia (Scott) Burnett of Cedar Rapids; a son, Rex (Melissa) Gaskill of Garwin, IA; 7 grandchildren, Sasha and Travis Burnett, Jacob, James and Desi Canny, Andrew Curran and Jianwa Bennett; two brothers, Jack (Donna) Gaskill of San Antonio, TX and Don (Ann) Gaskill of Colorado Springs, CO; two sisters, Lois Trainer of Waterloo and Isabelle Auffert of Maryville, MO. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Kenny Gaskill and two sisters, Margaret Kinder and Viola Conz.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Mary of the Visitation in Ottumwa with Father Bernie Weir presiding. Graveside service and burial will be 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Maryville, MO with Father Martin DeMeulenaere presiding.

 Memorials may be made to Hospice, 927 Pennsylvania Ave., Ottumwa, IA 52501; the Alzheimer’s Foundation or Seton Catholic School.

The family would like to especially thank Jim’s caregiver, Rikki Lapoint for her special concern and care.