James K. "Jim" Bax passed away on April 18, 2023 at the age of 85 in Jonesburg.
Jim was born in a small German settlement and was raised on a farm near St. Elizabeth, located in the central part of Missouri. He lived with his parents, Sam and Augusta Bax nee Verhoff; his brothers, Richard and Robert; and his sisters Evelyn, Rosanna and Rosetta.
Jim’s first language was German. When he started school, he had problems with English as well as the switch from writing with his left hand to his right hand, according to instructions from his first grade teacher.
Jim then started to stutter. He wrote with his right hand but did everything else with his left hand. He also suffered from allergies that included hay fever and asthma. Rural doctors at the time said it was a mental condition. As he got older, he would outgrow it. Of course, that never happened. He went to high school in St. Elizabeth and loved to play sports. He was the highest scorer in basketball and kept the school scoring record for many years.
After high school, Jim’s parents insisted he leave the farm and go to the city to get a job. He went into the Army, where he was a member of ROTC during high school. He served for six months on active duty, then in the reserves for many years. The first place he looked for a job was McDonnell Douglas. He went on to serve his entire career there.
In 1961, Jim married Theresa Lischwe. They had four daughters, Jeanette, Carol, Mary Jane and Karen.
Jim loved education. He continued taking courses throughout his career to further his learning. He competed with people who graduated with various degrees. Normally he had the highest grades in the class.
Jim volunteered for charities at McDonnell Douglas, Woodson Terrace Planning and Zoning Commission, St. William School and Church, Junior Achievement, Knights of Columbus and Daily World Missionaries. He also volunteered with St. Patrick Church, Jonesburg Chamber of Commerce, Elks Lodge, St. Vincent DePaul and Holy Rosary Church throughout his retirement.
He lived in Woodson Terrace and retired at age 59 to High Hill on the farm, where he raised cattle, chickens, guinea hens, dogs and cats and did some gardening. His first bull was an accident that they were not able to make one of the calves into a steer. He hand fed the animals which helped him to sell his bulls since they were docile and friendly. He retired from the cattle business when he was no longer able to take care of them due to issues in the winter time with ice and water.
Jim always wanted to do the best he could in life. "I enjoyed a challenge and usually became interested in trying to do the thing that most people said was impossible and gave up on doing. I was a person who would almost never give up but instead would stay in there fighting to accomplish the task he set out to do. I loved to organize and share his success with other people so they too can enjoy the same type of success he has had. I gave more of myself than I expected to receive in return." He also expected his tombstone to say, "I worked hard at everything I did, in fact so hard that I must have enjoyed work."
Jim is survived by his beloved wife Theresa Bax nee Lischwe of Jonesburg; four daughters, Jeanette (Mark Kurtz) Bax-Kurtz, Carol Whayne, Mary Jane (Tony) Petralli, Karen Murphy; grandchildren, Emily (Billy) Boner, Mark John Kurtz, Jr., Lauren Merchant, Andria Petralli, Jaimie Kurtz, Brittany Merchant, Hannah Murphy and Brendan Murphy; great-grandchildren, Aubrie Boner, Naomi Boner and Everett Dare; siblings, Robert (Sharon) Bax, Evelyn Loethem, Rosanna (Gene) Bisges, Rosetta (Eddie) Sommers; and sister-in-law, Ramona Bax.
Jim is preceded in death by brother, Richard Bax; father, Sam H. Bax; and mother, Augusta Bax.
Visitation is scheduled from 4 p.m.-8 p.m. on April 20 at Pitman Funeral Home in Warrenton. Funeral will be held at 10 a.m. on April 21 at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Warrenton. Burial will follow at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Warrenton.
Memorials may be made at Holy Rosary Church or School and the St. Vincent De Paul Society.
