Jim Zerkel

(From Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary)

James M. Zerkel, Sr., 89, of Joplin, Missouri, departed this life on Saturday evening, August 1, 2020. He was born in Berne, Indiana on October 25, 1930 to Oliver Kenneth and Sarah Marie Zerkel (née Burdg). 

After graduation from high school in 1948, he moved to Ft. Wayne, IN to begin learning to fly airplanes, a lifelong passion. In 1950, Jim was accepted to the United States Military Academy and graduated in the top 15% of his class. Upon graduation, he chose to go into the Air Force and became a flight instructor at Reese Air Force Base. He then flew in the Strategic Air Command, flying B-47s as a First Lieutenant.

In 1963, Jim retired from the Air Force, and he and his family moved to Joplin, MO to work in the family businesses, Snyder Bridge Company and Snyder Construction Company for the next 40 years. He was on the board and served as President of the Associated General Contractors as well as an active member of the Joplin Kiwanis Club and Roughnecks. 

Jim was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Joplin, where he served as a youth leader and Sunday school teacher for 25 years. He also served as chairman of the fundraising and building committee for the Family Life Center, as well as many other church committees.

Jim was the chief pilot of the restored WWII-era B-25 bomber, the Fairfax Ghost. For many years, he traveled the country to exhibit the plane at airshows, often with his father-in-law, Col. Travis Hoover, a Doolittle Raider. He was active on the Airfest Committee to bring airshows to Joplin Regional Airport and was a member of the Joplin Airport Board, serving as President for two terms. He also flew many mercy flights for Pilots for Christ and Wings Over Mid-America. 

The LeTourneau Ministries and other church missionary efforts took Jim and Bev across the globe, as they supported church planting in Central and South America. Jim served on the MO board of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and started the adult chapter of FCA in Joplin. He was also an avid MSSU Lions fan as a Lionbacker, and he was awarded the Lionheart Award in 2005. He served on the MSSU Foundation Board and committee to build the baseball facility. In 2008, Jim was honored to receive Joplin’s Chamber of Commerce Man Of The Year.

His greatest honor was being Grandpa to Kay, Kimberly, Kacey (Shawn), Oliver, Landon, James III, Samuel, and Katy, and he is even great-grandpa to Evelyn James. He flew them all over the United States for events and rarely missed a single ball game, recital, play, or concert. He loved to travel and visited all 50 states and 42 countries, even flying his Piper Seneca to Alaska to visit family.

Jim is survived by four sons, Russ (Susan) Zerkel, James, Jr. (Debbie), Brad (Donell), and Paul (Julie), and one brother Ron (Sharon) Zerkel. He is preceded in death by his wife, Beverly C. Zerkel, two sons, Brian Zerkel and Kenneth Zerkel, and four siblings, Gene Zerkel, Kate Sauers, Jerry Zerkel, and Sheryl Martin.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, August 5, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. at the former Zerkel residence (100 Colonial Drive, Webb City) with Reverends Bob Howard and Brad Zerkel officiating. Burial will follow privately with full military honors at Ozark Memorial Park Cemetery with Oliver Zerkel, Landon Zerkel, Samuel Zerkel, James Zerkel, III, Steve Morton and Darren Laptad serving as pallbearers. The family will receive friends at 9:00 a.m. on Wednesday at the residence. Memorials are being directed to First United Methodist Church c/o the mortuary. On-line condolences may be sent to the family through www.thornhilldillon.com. Arrangements are under the personal care and direction of the Thornhill-Dillon Mortuary in Joplin.