James F. "Jim" Broker was born June 15, 1939 in Oregon, Missouri, and graduated from Mound City High School in 1958.
On September 2, 1958 Jim married Mary Jane Dwyre. To this union two daughters were born. Jim worked construction early in their marriage. In July 1965 he began working for the CB&Q Railroad as a telegraph operator. The CB&Q merged with Burlington Northern Railroad and Jim worked as a railroad agent until his retirement in 1988.
After retirement he worked for the local Squaw Creek National Wildlife Refuge (now Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge) near Mound City at the front desk, and assisted the refuge naturalist and park ranger in teaching young people about wildlife, the environment and refuge management.
Jim worked as a deputy for the Mound City police department. This inspired his creation of a digital book published in 2014 called, "The Last Marshall." Jim and Mary also owned and operated a real estate agency in Mound City in the 1980's.
Jim was an avid writer and photographer. Over the years Jim wrote and published "Evening Light," a Christian newsletter. He also wrote articles for the St. Joseph News Press and for various magazines. While living in Union, Mississippi in 2001 and 2002 he wrote and edited a weekly column for the Union Appeal newspaper. Jim also had a photography studio in Forest City in the 1970's. Among his many other interests were reloading, archery, leather work, ham radio operator, and target practice.
Most important to Jim was the work of the Lord. He served as pastor at Benton Church in Forest City and later in Gentryville, Missouri, Urich, Missouri, and then Union, Mississippi. He held various revivals all over many states.
Jim felt most called as an evangelist. He traveled through Mexico, Belize, and British Honduras on foot with good friend and fellow minister James Huskey. Jim later traveled to Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand in the late 1980's spreading the word of God.
Jim faithfully read his Bible every night from a young age due to the influence of his grandparents Ezra and Ida Martin, whom he lived with during his formative years.
Jim and Mary celebrated 60 years of marriage before Mary passed away on February 18, 2019. Jim passed away on Sunday, August 27, 2023 at a St. Joseph, Missouri care center. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother.
Survivors include his daughters, Catherine Elizabeth Younger of Mound City, Missouri and Mary Ann (Gus) Pardo of Big Lake Village; four grandchildren, Joshua (Sirena) Younger, Katie Leach, Jason (Falisha) Leach, and Austin Leach; six great grandchildren; three brothers and two sisters. Jim and Mary's biggest request was for all the family to make Heaven their home.
He will be sadly missed by family and friends.
Services: Wednesday, September 6, 2023, 2:00 pm, Chamberlain Funeral Home, Mound City. Family will greet friends one hour prior to services. Interment: Benton Church Cemetery. Memorials: Benton Church Cemetery or to the Broker family.
