Donald J. “Jim” Edgar

Edgar, Donald J. “Jim”, of O’Fallon, MO, died peacefully at home on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at the age of 86. Loving husband of 61 years to Ida “Becky” Rebecca Edgar (nee: Wingard); beloved son of the late Orville and Caroline “Minnie” Wilhelmina Edgar (nee: Uffelmann); devoted father of Donald "Jim" (Tami) James Edgar, Jr., Julia Diane Edgar, Andrew Paul Edgar, and Elizabeth Gail (Craig) Vanecek; cherished grandfather of Dana Edgar, Erin (Chris) Bicknese, Zachary (Stephanie Brozo) Edgar, Lee (Melody) Edgar, Taylor Edgar, Levi Edgar, and Ethan Vanecek; treasured great-grandfather of Adam Bicknese; and also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. He is preceded in death by his brothers Frederick Orville Edgar, Robert Oliver Edgar, and Norbert Paul Edgar.

Jim proudly served his country in the United States Navy during the early 50’s. He was a charter member of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in O’Fallon, MO (established in 1960) and served as an Elder, Treasurer, Sunday School Superintendent, Sunday School teacher, member of the choir, and President of the congregation.  Jim loved to tell stories especially about his service in the Navy and how he met his wife of 61 years. He enjoyed woodworking and drafting, but most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family. Jim was outgoing and friendly; he never met a stranger.

Jim had a natural mechanical aptitude, which he used while serving in the US Navy as an aircraft mechanic. He continued to use his skills at McDonnell Aircraft in St. Louis from 1954 to 1961 in experimental aircraft and then with Monsanto at the St. Peters plant. He worked first in silicon production and then in the Mechanical Maintenance Department at the Monsanto Plant from 1961 to 1989 and then MEMC until retirement in 1993.

In his later years when Parkinson’s Disease interfered with his physical abilities he continued to enjoy visiting with friends and sharing stories and jokes, with his sense of humor and positive attitude remaining steady to the end. If you asked him how he was he would typically say with a smile, “not bad for an old fella!”

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Lutheran Hour Ministries (https://www.lhmgift.org/forms/formgeneral.asp) or the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) (http://www.apdaparkinson.org/ways-to-donate/memorials-tributes/)