A funeral mass for James A. “Jim” Shalla, 87, of Kalona, will be held Wednesday, June 16, 2021, at 10:00 AM at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Richmond, with Father Bill Roush officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at the Sharon Hill Cemetery in Kalona. The service will be available via Livestream at the Beatty Peterseim Facebook Page. Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 15, from 4 – 7 PM at the Peterseim Funeral Home in Kalona, with a prayer service at 3:30PM. A memorial fund has been established for Richmond Am Vet Post #107, Kalona Volunteer Fire Department and Hospice of Washington County. Jim Shalla died Sunday, June 13, 2021, at his home in Kalona.

James Allen Shalla was born April 10, 1934, in Washington, Iowa, the son of Jesse and Blanche (Novy) Shalla. He graduated from Kalona High School in 1952 and joined the United States Army in 1953. On February 11, 1956, he was united in marriage to Annette Thomann at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Riverside. Jim was a carpenter through Carpenter’s Local #1260. He was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Richmond Am Vet Post #107, and the Kalona Volunteer Fire Department. Jim played TAPS for funerals and Memorial Day services for over 70 years. He enjoyed golfing, bowling, chocolate, reading, and visiting Civil War battlefields.

Survivors include his wife Annette of Kalona, three children: Tom Shalla of Kalona, Peggy (Tom) Duwa of Kalona, Sue (J.D.) Wollrab of Ainsworth, seven grandchildren: Andrew (Jennie) Shalla, Adam (Callie) Shalla, Alex (Michelle) Shalla, Ryan (Megan) Duwa, Kylee (Ryan) Striegel, Jesse Wollrab and Cessalie Wollrab, nine great-grandchildren, and his brother Jesse (Emma) Shalla of Crown Point, IN.

Preceding Jim in death were his parents, infant sisters: Joanne and Janice and sister Jeanne Fowler.