Rev. James Sanderson

The Rev. James A. Sanderson, 83, of Cape Girardeau passed away Friday, Aug. 18, 2017, at Chateau Girardeau, surrounded by family.

He was born Feb. 10, 1934, in Williamsville, Missouri, to Albert Charles and Lillie Bell (Nelson) Sanderson.

Jim graduated from Williamsville High School in 1952 and the University of Missouri in Columbia the spring of 1956 with a Bachelor of Science degree in agriculture. Jim received a commission as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army upon graduation from the University of Missouri. He served in active duty for two years and was promoted to first lieutenant prior to discharge.

Jim felt the call to the full-time ministry in the fall of 1957. Upon discharge from the Army, he went to Boston University School of Theology, where he received his graduate degree in theology in June 1963.

He was ordained a deacon in June 1961 in the Missouri East Conference of the United Methodist Church and was ordained as an elder in 1963. He received an appointment as the associate minister at Union United Methodist Church in St. Louis.

In April 1966, he was assigned the associate minister in the Missouri East Conference of the United Methodist Church.

He and Martha Frances Sander were married April 1, 1967, at Grace United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau.

In June 1973, Jim was appointed as the minister of education at First United Methodist Church in Kirksville, Missouri. In 1978, he was appointed as the minister of education at First United Methodist Church of Festus-Crystal City, Missouri, and then in November was appointed as associate pastor at Centenary United Methodist Church in Cape Girardeau. In June 1992, he was appointed as pastor of the Asbury United Methodist Church in Lincoln County, Missouri, and the Makin Memorial United Methodist Church in Winfield, Missouri. On May 31, 1996, he retired from full-time ministry, moved back to Cape Girardeau and began part-time employment as minister of visitation at the Centenary United Methodist Church.

While living in Cape Girardeau, he was active in the Ministerial Alliance, FISH food pantry, Teen Pregnancy Task Force, Old McKendree Chapel Board, Southeast Hospital as on-call chaplain for many years and the committee to get recycling underway in the city of Cape Girardeau.

Survivors include his loving wife of 50 years, Martha Sanderson of Cape Girardeau; son, Todd Albert (Colleen) Sanderson of Ste. Genevieve, Missouri; daughter, Diane Martha (Chris) Coffey of Des Moines, Iowa; granddaughters, Kristina Kohl of Ste. Genevieve and Lillie Coffey of Des Moines; and sister, Laura Marie Beckendorf of Brenham, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Walter Ray, Glen Charles, Paul Nelson, John Irvin and William Hugh Sanderson.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and 1 to 2 p.m. Friday at Centenary United Methodist Church.

Funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the church, with the Rev. David Conley officiating. Burial with full military honors will follow at Zion United Methodist Church Cemetery in Gordonville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to Centenary United Methodist Church, FISH or Southeast Hospice.

Ford and Sons Funeral Home is handling arrangements.

Online condolences may be shared at fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.