James Slinkard

James M. "Jim" Slinkard, age 70, of Jackson, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, at Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau, where he had been a resident for the past six years.

He was born December 10, 1947, in Cape Girardeau, son of Weldon L. and Amelia F. Brucker Slinkard. He and Barbara J. Kirkpatrick were married June 30, 1973, in Cape Girardeau.

Jim was a 1964 graduate of Jackson High School and worked for Lenco for a while after graduation. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on July 12, 1967, was honorably discharged March 14, 1969, and thereafter joined the Missouri National Guard 1140th Infantry in Jackson. He returned to Lenco and worked 25 years and then worked for Mondi for 10 years, retiring in 2005 because of declining health.

Jim was a member of the VFW Post 10495 and the Altenthal-Joerns American Legion Post 158, both in Jackson.

Loving survivors include his wife of 44 years, Barbara Slinkard; two daughters, Tammy (Dale) Wheatley and Megane (Jason) Niswonger, both of Jackson; two grandchildren, Beth Wheatley of Milford, Illinois, and Nate Niswonger of Jackson; and three sisters, Ruth Ann Hobeck of Jackson, Wanda Lee (Donald) Stone of Daisy and Mary Lou Hanners of Jackson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, John David Slinkard; and a sister, Sharon Kay Slinkard.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday in chapel A at McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson.

Funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home, with the Rev. Jim Hampton officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with full military honors.

The family suggests that contributions be made to the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.mccombsfuneralhome.com.