- Born on: January 26, 1949
- Departed on: March 20, 2025
- Resided in: Iowa City, IA
James "Jim" David Countryman
James David (Jim) Countryman of Iowa City, 76, died on March 20th, 2025. Jim was born on January 26th, 1949 in Nevada, Iowa to Dayton Wendell (1918-2011) and Ruth Elizabeth (Hazen) Countryman (1920-2001). He is survived by sisters Karen Cummins, Joan Countryman and Kay Countryman and nephews Mario Countryman (Karen) and David Countryman (Joan).
Jim graduated from Nevada high school and was drafted into the Marines at the age of 19. Jim went through Officer Candidate School reaching the rank of First Lieutenant and was soon stationed at California's Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in communications.
After his military service, Jim used the GI bill to go back to school at the University of Iowa becoming a lifelong Hawkeye fan. While in school he met his first wife, Gwendolyn Coppersmith. Jim is survived by their three daughters Katie (Jesse) Boland, Molly (Ivan) Guerra and Genevieve (Joey) Giambalvo and nine grandchildren: Mya, Grant and Miles (Katie); Brad, Daisy, Mary Ellen, Jacob and Kaitlyn (Molly) and Gemma (Genevieve).
Jim's early career path was varied; he struggled to find something he was passionate about. In his 30s, a healing experience led him to Palmer College where he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. In the 1990s, Jim switched to academics becoming a professor at Palmer where his passion for chiropractic evolved and thrived. Jim spent the next 25 years there; he loved working with professors and students, learning and teaching new techniques and helping others heal. Jim was instrumental in creating a Doctors without Borders program hosting free clinics in North America and overseas; Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti, Vietnam and Hungary were visited during that time.
Jim met his second wife, Laura Hopkins, at Palmer. Over the next 18 years, Jim and Laura worked together publishing and presenting research papers for two chiropractic research organizations. He is survived by his wife Laura, mother-in-law Margaret, nephew Adam and niece Carrie.
Jim had a gift for making people feel special and will be remembered for his love of fun, adventure and a clever and unerring sense of humor. Jim loved good food and good restaurants, traveling, boats and the waters that carried them, cars, and electrified recumbent bicycles. A Celebration of Life ceremony is being planned for late Spring.
Jim graduated from Nevada high school and was drafted into the Marines at the age of 19. Jim went through Officer Candidate School reaching the rank of First Lieutenant and was soon stationed at California's Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in communications.
After his military service, Jim used the GI bill to go back to school at the University of Iowa becoming a lifelong Hawkeye fan. While in school he met his first wife, Gwendolyn Coppersmith. Jim is survived by their three daughters Katie (Jesse) Boland, Molly (Ivan) Guerra and Genevieve (Joey) Giambalvo and nine grandchildren: Mya, Grant and Miles (Katie); Brad, Daisy, Mary Ellen, Jacob and Kaitlyn (Molly) and Gemma (Genevieve).
Jim's early career path was varied; he struggled to find something he was passionate about. In his 30s, a healing experience led him to Palmer College where he earned his Doctor of Chiropractic degree. In the 1990s, Jim switched to academics becoming a professor at Palmer where his passion for chiropractic evolved and thrived. Jim spent the next 25 years there; he loved working with professors and students, learning and teaching new techniques and helping others heal. Jim was instrumental in creating a Doctors without Borders program hosting free clinics in North America and overseas; Brazil, Bolivia, Haiti, Vietnam and Hungary were visited during that time.
Jim met his second wife, Laura Hopkins, at Palmer. Over the next 18 years, Jim and Laura worked together publishing and presenting research papers for two chiropractic research organizations. He is survived by his wife Laura, mother-in-law Margaret, nephew Adam and niece Carrie.
Jim had a gift for making people feel special and will be remembered for his love of fun, adventure and a clever and unerring sense of humor. Jim loved good food and good restaurants, traveling, boats and the waters that carried them, cars, and electrified recumbent bicycles. A Celebration of Life ceremony is being planned for late Spring.
