Michael Durlam, age 84, of Ames, Iowa passed away at Israel Family Hospice House in Ames on Saturday, November 24, 2018. A gathering of family and friends will be held 4-6:00 p.m. on Friday, November 30, 2018, at Grandon Funeral and Cremation Care, 414 Lincoln Way, Ames, Iowa. A celebration of life memorial service will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 1, 2018, at First United Methodist Church, 516 Kellogg Ave, Ames, Iowa.
Mike was born in Jefferson, Iowa, on October 1, 1934, the son of Michael and Faye Durlam. He was raised in Jefferson, graduating from Jefferson High School. He attended American Institute of Business (AIB) in Des Moines. He married Jo Ann Bullard on June 24, 1956, in Jefferson, Iowa. He served in the Iowa Air National Guard for 8 years, and also worked at Durlam & Durlam Clothing in Jefferson with his brother Loran. In 1964, Mike opened Durlam & Durlam Clothing in Ames and continued there until his retirement in 2000. Mike was very involved in the Ames Community. He was a prominent member of the Downtown Betterment Committee. He was an avid Cyclone fan and a Cyclone Ambassador, where he and Jo would host football players in a "home away from home" program. He was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church. Mike was also involved in Golden K Kiwanis. Above all else, he loved his wife and family as they were always number one in his eyes.
Mike is survived by his wife Jo; his daughters Ann (Richard) Sandve; and Sara (Bruce) Westemeyer; grandchildren Erica (Andrew) Tinius and their son Xavier; Nate Sandve, Ryan Westemeyer, and Ross Westemeyer; a brother Wendell Durlam; two sisters Lois Veach and Mary Lynch; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and six siblings.
Memorials may be directed to: First United Methodist Church 516 Kellogg Ave. Ames, Iowa, 50010.
Online condolences may be directed to: wwwgrandonfuneralandcremationcare.com.