Jim was born March 16, 1978, in Iowa City and was adopted at birth by Jerry and Jeanne (Daggett) Zehr. He graduated from BCL-UW High School in 1996. He received a bachelor of science degree from Iowa State University in 2004, majoring in management and finance. He completed additional coursework at the Urban Land Institute in Florida and MIT in Massachusetts.
He began his career as the business manager for Global Reach Internet Productions in Ames. Following the completion of his degree, he became the principal and proprietor of General Property Inc. and the managing partner of Zehr Development LLC. In his spare time, he sponsored and actively supported the Iowa State Entrepreneurial Program. He was a member of the Urban Land Institute, a continuous attendee of the Iowa Venture Capital Conference, the chair of the Family Selection Committee for Habitat for Humanity of Central Iowa, and an active member of Calvary United Methodist Church. While living in Conrad, he volunteered with the Conrad Fire Department.
He is survived by his parents, Jerry and Jeanne Zehr of Conrad; one brother, John Zehr of Minneapolis; his maternal grandmother, Arlene Daggett of Conrad; his girlfriend, Amanda Fenster of New York City; his birth mother, Cindy (Jeff) Nelson of Elgin, S.C.; his birth father, Bart (Lori) Proctor of Tipton; half siblings, Shayla and Eric Nelson of Elgin, S.C., Ben, Amanda, Alex, and Drew Proctor of Tipton; and many loving aunts, uncles and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Earl and Alta Zehr of Flanagan, Ill., and his maternal grandfather, Dilman Daggett of Conrad.
Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3, at Stevens Memorial Chapel in Ames.
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