Jim, who was born in Lawrenceburg, within a few miles of the farm where he lived his entire life, passed away March 19, 2013.

Jim had a 40-year career as a dairy supervisor for the Missouri division of the DHIA. Since retirement, he loved tending to his cows, which he individually named. He was an amateur genealogist and enjoyed poring through old family records while researching his ancestors. In the evening, he could be found sitting on the porch, listening to Cardinals baseball on the radio. Jim grew impressive vegetable gardens, which he found extremely rewarding, for his family.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Jimmy and Glen (Widick) Wilkerson. As an only child, Jim was very proud the large family he raised. He is survived by his five children: Colleen Atkeson of Marshfield, James Wilkerson of Everton, Erin Noto of Hopewell, NJ, Beth Smith of Yardley, PA, and Justin Wilkerson of Fairfax, VA. He is also survived by nine grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Jim’s family will hold a service at Greenlawn Funeral Home North, 3506 N. National Ave., in Springfield on Saturday, March 23, 2013 at 3:00 p.m. Burial will follow in Dunkle Cemetery, Lawrence County, MO. Visitation will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday, March 22, in the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, Jim’s family suggests donations be sent to the Mount Vernon Senior Center in Mount Vernon, MO; Jim was fed many meals and made many friends there, or to Dunkle Cemetery, P.O. Box 16, Halltown, MO.

The family would like to thank the nursing staff of Cox South Hospital as well as the staff of the Springfield Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.