Memorial
Clifford James “Jim” Cutler, 84, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, passed away on Friday, July 17, 2026, at the Dennis and Donna Oldord Hospice House in Hiawatha, Iowa. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, July 25, 2026, at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church. Private family inurnment will be held at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
Jim was born on November 14, 1941, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to Clifford Cutler and Marie Anderson. He graduated from Washington High School and the University of Iowa with a bachelor’s degree in business. On June 13, 1964, he was united in marriage to Carol Lathrop. Jim retired after nearly 25 years as an insurance agent with Holmes Murphy, where he specialized in architects and engineering insurance, loss prevention, and professional liability.
Jim played a lot of baseball in his youth and is a longtime fan of the Chicago Cubs and all Hawkeye sports. He was an incredible athlete in high school and in college playing both baseball and basketball. He was selected in the major league baseball draft but had to decide between baseball and supporting his family. The financials of baseball were much different in 1966. He gave up his dream of baseball and parlayed that into an incredibly successful career in insurance. He coached many youth baseball and softball teams. He was an avid golfer throughout his life.
After a well-deserved retirement, Jim was the leader of the Grasshoppers Golf Group of Eastern Iowa. He also set up golf events in Gulf Shores, Alabama where he and Carol wintered for 20 years. He was the Commissioner for a simulated national baseball league known as Pure Baseball.
He was an active member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church and appreciated the many prayers from the Gloria Dei prayer group and the caring and faithful visits of Pastor Trish.
When asked several times during his final days what he valued most, his answer was simple: love. He tried to live by this principle, though he would humbly say he did not always succeed as often as he wished. He believed that if the world would think of love before giving in to negativity, we would all live better lives.
Jim is survived by his children, Mark Cutler (Tammy Zimmerman), and Stacie (Ralph) Reid; grandchildren, Blake Cutler, Rachel Reid (Shane Bussan), Casey Cutler, Stevie Schmitz, Chelsea Carmer; Nephew, Steve Scott (Keri Harris); and faithful companion, Chirps the cat.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Carol Cutler, sister Dorothy Ross, and nephew Tim Ross.
Jim wanted to pass on a message of gratitude. The unfailing love and compassion shown by his family were of the highest order. Stacie was with him continuously through his final journey and provided a level of care only a daughter could provide. He offered special thanks to Carol for her loving kindness and for instilling this quality in their family for which he was eternally grateful. The final month of his life was made much more comfortable through the 24/7 care of Home Instead, and especially from Stephanie, who essentially became part of our caregiving family. Not enough positives may be said about Mercy Home Hospice Care. Their rapid responses and expert care in providing comfort were exemplary. Preplanning with Cedar Memorial made the whole matter seamless.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Dragonfly Transplant Fund, 260 33rd Ave SW Suite M, Cedar Rapids, IA, 52404.