Jim Willenbring

James B. "Jim" Willenbring, 74, of Fruitland passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at the Missouri Veterans Home in Cape Girardeau.

He was born March 13, 1938, in Montrose, Mo., to Frank and Eleanor Bettels Willenbring. He and Charlene "Toni" Giesen were married May 1, 1971, in Sioux City, Iowa.

Jim was raised in Perryville, Mo., and was a 1957 graduate of St. Vincent High School.

He entered the U.S. Navy on Sept. 17, 1957. He was a store keeper, primarily working with the TAR (Training and Administration of Reserves) Program. His duty locations included Cecil Field, Fla.; Cape Girardeau; Sioux City; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Toledo, Ohio; and Buffalo, N.Y. He retired with an honorable discharge June 30, 1981.

The family moved to Jackson in 1981 and became members of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church. Jim was a member of Bishop Timon Knights of Columbus Council 6405 in Jackson.

He established Kitchen and Exhaust Cleaning in 1984. He provided commercial exhaust cleaning to restaurants in the Southeast Missouri area, retiring in 2001.

Loving survivors include his wife of 41 years, Toni of Fruitland; three daughters, Karen (Randy) Engelen and children Megan, Ethan and Rachel of Burfordville, Judy (Brad) Diebold and children Mindy and Alex of Fruitland, Julie (Aaron) Hughes of Fruitland; a brother, Joe (Francie) Willenbring of Jackson; and two sisters, Betty (Charlie) O'Hara of Bow, Wash., and Carol (Tom) L'Hote of Green Cove Springs, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the chapel of McCombs Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Jackson. Deacon Walt Biri will lead parish prayers at 7 p.m., immediately followed by the rosary led by Bishop Timon Knights of Columbus.

Funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Church, with the Revs. John Harth and Oscar Lukefahr officiating. Interment will be in Russell Heights Cemetery in Jackson, with full military honors.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate memorials to the Missouri Veterans Home or Immaculate Conception Building Fund.

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