January 9, 2024

Linn County News

Published Jan. 10, 2024

James “Jim” Weickert, 84, devoted husband, loving father and doting grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away unexpectedly on Nov. 26, 2023. Visitation was held from 4 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023, at St. Gabriel Archangel Catholic Church, 4737 N. Cleveland, Kansas City, Mo. 64117. The funeral Mass was at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at St. Gabriel’s followed by burial at Resurrection Cemetery, 5001 NE Cookingham Dr, Kansas City, Mo. 64156.

Jim was born April 3, 1939, on his family’s farm in LaCygne, Kan., to Frank and Opal Weickert, who preceded him in death. After graduation, he attended Ft. Scott Community College. He joined the Kansas National Guard in 1961, serving until 1967. 

Jim met his wife, Marguerite, while they worked for Greyhound Bus Lines. They were married at Holy Cross Catholic Church in northeast Kansas City and would have celebrated their 62nd anniversary on Jan. 6, 2024. Together they raised four children. Jim and Marguerite were active in St. Gabriel parish activities throughout the years.

Jim worked for Kelly Springfield tires before moving to Shore Tire Company, where he was employed for over 40 years before he retired. He owned a lawn service company, which he continued after retirement, even mowing this summer and collecting leaves this fall. He provided maintenance for LaVonna Peterson’s Early Childhood Centers. 

Jim was very talented and could fix or build basically anything. He never stopped moving, even up until his final day, and would tell you “If you get out of bed after 5 am, you’re burning daylight”. He loved to show you his checklist and all he had accomplished that day. When he ran errands to the hardware store or the bank, he was usually sure to share a joke or story with the employees, many he knew by name, and if they told him to have a good day, he would reply “If I don’t, it’s my own fault.” 

We will miss his homemade birthday cards, his grandpa jokes, his teasing, how he was always happy to see us, having to move our car because we parked in the wrong spot in his driveway or because he needed to get a mower out, starting to back out of the driveway and having to stop and roll down the window so he could tell you one last thing, and watching him enjoy a good laugh, along with many other good memories. 

Most of all, he enjoyed family dinners and parties, both with his family at the farm and in Kansas City. Every goodbye included “aren’t you glad you got to see me?” Yes, we always were. 

Jim is survived by his wife, Marguerite; daughter Julie (Hans) Nissen; sons Jeff, Jack and John (Timmera); granddaughters Megan Weickert, Cassie (Sam) Wilder, Kelsie (Connor) Thompson, Emily and Annelise Nissen, and Samantha Weickert; grandson Christian Nissen; great-grandchildren Liam and Olivia Wilder and Hudson and Harper Thompson; brothers Charles (Mary) Weickert and Robert (Marylin) Weickert; sister Wanda Weickert; sisters-in-law Cathy (Tom) Adams and Dorothy Harper; brother-in-law Richard Pund and 12 nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers were Jeff Weickert, Jack Weickert, John Weickert, Tim Adams, Todd Adams, Jerry Adams, Bill Weickert and Christian Nissen.