James Joseph "Jim" Kleffner, of Brinktown, was born on April 22, 1938, at St. Louis, a son of Lawrence Stephen and Elizabeth Margaret (Steinman) Kleffner, and departed this life at 2:25 a.m., on Tuesday, October 14, 2014, in the St. Mary's Health Center, Jefferson City. Jim had attained the age of 76 years.

Jim was united in marriage on September 8, 1962, to the former Miss Sharon Kay Cross, and to this union, three children were born. He was preceded in death by his father, Lawrence, on July 9, 1969; his mother, Elizabeth, on October 17, 2006; and seven brothers-in-law, Duane Robertson, Raymond Winkelman, Pierce Cross, Bennie Cross, Bill Cross, Frank Cross, and Myron Ferry.

On May 3, 1959, Jim entered into active federal service in the Army of the United States, and he took his basic training and advanced individual training at Fort Leonard Wood. Jim's major instruction course field was academic, and following his time of training, he was transferred to the United States Army Corps Reserve on November 2, 1959, from Company C, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, United States Army Training Center, Fort Leonard Wood. Jim continued to serve the United States of America in the United States Army Reserve until he was honorably discharged.

He was a lifelong member of the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Brinktown, a member of the Lischwe-Brandel American Legion Post No. 354 in Brinktown, and a 4th Degree member of the Argyle Knights of Columbus Council No. 2047. Jim had served on the board of the Meramec Regional Planning Commission, St. James; the Three Rivers Electric Cooperative, Linn; and the Maries R-1 School Board, Vienna, for three terms. He was elected Presiding Commissioner of Maries County in 1986 and continued to serve in that position until his retirement in 2006 when he completed twenty years of service to Maries County.

Jim was a lifelong farmer in Maries County with his farm and family being elected the Missouri Farm Family of the Year, the American Royal Farm Family of the Year for the Eastern District of Missouri, and numerous other awards pertaining to farming and agriculture. In addition to being busy with his farming and livestock operation, he especially enjoyed going fishing with his wife, children, and grandchildren; slow pitch softball; horse shoe pitching; and bowling.

Those left to mourn the passing of Jim include: His beloved wife of 52 years, Sharon Kay Kleffner, of the home near Brinktown; two sons, Paul Kleffner (Penny), Jefferson City; and Larry Kleffner, Brinktown; one daughter, Lisa Johnson (Brian), Jefferson City; five grandchildren, Rachel Kleffner, Ryan Kleffner, Cory Johnson, Shae Johnson, and Caitlyn Kleffner; three brothers, Thomas Kleffner (Loretta), St. Charles, John Kleffner (Linda), Wardsville, and Jerome Kleffner (Donna), Ballwin; four sisters, Betty Winkelman, Ashland, Alice Robertson, Jefferson City, Cathy Allen, Jefferson City, and Donna Schwartze (David), Argyle; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Visitation for Mr. Kleffner will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., on Friday, October 17, 2014, with a Vigil Service at 7:30 p.m., and from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, October 18, 2014, all in the Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Brinktown.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated for Mr. Kleffner at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, October 18, 2014, in the Guardian Angels Catholic Church, Brinktown, with the Rev. Msgr. Marion J. Makarewicz, pastor of the Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, Lake Ozark, as the celebrant. Interment with full military honors will be in the Guardian Angels Cemetery, Brinktown, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family of Mr. Kleffner to the Visitation Inter Parish School, Vienna, with envelopes available at the church or the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes