James Alan Patterson

Open Visitation: Friday, June 6, 2025, 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M., Peterson Mortuary, 212 S. Locust Street, Glenwood, Iowa.

Interment: Saturday, June 7, 2025, 12:00 P.M., Hillsdale Cemetery, rural Glenwood, Iowa.

Memorial donations have been designated to: Glenwood Band Parents Association.

James Alan Patterson was born on October 6, 1972, in Council Bluffs, Iowa, the older of 2 sons born to Larry and Carol Patterson.  He was baptized in the Mineola Lutheran Church.

Jim was a member of Cub Scout troop #243, winning the local Pinewood Derby 3 years in a row with the help of a homemade track he and his dad built in the basement (and still has the trophies to prove it!).  In high school, he enjoyed playing the tri-toms and quads, and was named percussion section leader in the Southwest Iowa Honor Marching band. 

Jim graduated with the Glenwood High School Class of 1991, and attended the University of Iowa, earning a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a focus on film and cinema.  He worked at the Fox Station in Cedar Rapids after graduation, and then decided to pack up his bright yellow Dodge Dakota Sport pickup and head to Los Angeles.  He was employed in post-production at several media companies, including E! Network, Zoo, Post Haste and Deluxe Media Entertainment. 

Music was Jim’s love from the time he was small.  At age 4, he entertained his dad’s friends by playing his mom’s 45 records on a Kenner Close ‘n Play Phonograph in the driveway.  When MTV debuted in 1981, he became obsessed with 80’s music videos, along with 60s and 70s classic rock.  Some of his favorites included Pink Floyd, The Who, Queen and ELO.  This lifelong passion allowed him to become a popular West Hollywood weekend DJ.

A kind and caring child, Jim kept these traits into adulthood, always trying to treat others well.  He fretted over buying just the perfect gifts for his parents and brother, and when 1 gift might not be “just right”, he would buy 2 (or more).  He had such a big heart, even after death.  As an organ donor, he will be able to help other people that he never got to know.

Jim was meeting his parents in Las Vegas for Mother’s Day and a few days of fun when he was tragically taken from us. 

Online tributes from Jim’s high school and college classmates, and from his West Hollywood community, have filled our eyes with tears and our hearts with love.  We’re so proud of the man he became, and we’re grateful that he was surrounded by a multitude of caring friends in his California home. 

Jim is survived by his parents in Glenwood, brother Jeffrey Patterson of Glenwood, cousin Sam Jurgens (Jennifer Roland) of Collins, IA, other relatives and so many friends.  Losing him has broken our hearts.  Our lives will never be the same.  Rest in peace and fly away to your new home, our beautiful boy.