James Richard Strodtman

James R. (Jim) Strodtman, 83, of Napoleon, Missouri, passed away at Truman Healthcare and Rehab Center on November 19, 2018. Visitation for Jim will be Thursday, December 6 from 5:30 until 8:30 pm at the Wellington Community Christian Center, Wellington, Missouri. Funeral services will be Friday, December 7, 2018 at St. Paul Church in Napoleon at 10:00am. Interment will be in St. Paul Cemetery, Napoleon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to: Kids First Foundation, St. Paul Church, or Lafayette County Cancer Coalition.
Jim was born December 22, 1934, in his home, just outside of Napoleon, the son of Forest (Buster) F. G. Strodtman and Edna Bertha Eliza Larberg Strodtman. He married Marlene Jeanne Gabler on September10, 1955 in Napoleon. Jim was a member of St. Paul Church all of his life
Jim began his farming career at the age of 14 when his father became ill. He was a lifelong farmer. Jim was a member of the church choir and he sang bass in the Gospel Lovin' Four Quartet for about 40 years. Jim was appointed by Governor John Ashcroft as Western Lafayette County Commissioner on August 31, 1988 and was presiding Commissioner from 1991 to 2010. Jim was a founder of the Wellington Napoleon Fire and Ambulance District and co-founder of the Kids First Foundation. He was a member of the Tribe of Mic-O-Say and a member of the Masonic Lodge #149 and the Kaaba Shrine Club. He was inducted into the Minuteman Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. Jim loved basketball in school and was known for his hook shot. He and Marlene made many road trips, he was a history buff and a great joke teller, Jim never met a stranger.
He is survived by his children Cindy Strodtman Thieman and husband Terry of Lamar, Missouri and Mark Strodtman and wife Cindy of O'Fallon, Missouri. He has four grandchildren (Matt, Eric, Micah and Megan) and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Marlene, and a sister Mona Lou Strodtman McCarthy.