James Diekroeger

James Lewis Diekroeger, age 89, was born in Marceline, Missouri on November 12, 1934. He is the son of Manuel L. Diekroeger, M.D.and Katharine E. Wilson Diekroeger.

 He received a B.S. Degree from Central Methodist University in 1956. He followed that with graduate degrees in 1959 and 1962 from Indiana University and Missouri University.

 Jim taught one year of secondary education at Davenport Iowa. That was followed by four years as a faculty member of Southern Illinois University prior to the school’s development of the SIU campus of Edwardsville Illinois. He later served at executive levels of both the Missouri and Illinois State Health Departments. He developed the trauma center system for the hospitals in Illinois. In 1975, Jim developed Springfield’s first state certified public health department and administered the department until his voluntary retirement in 1986. He founded and served as President of Netco, Inc an environmental consulting and testing company from which he retired in 1992.

 Jim and his family resided in Sherman, Illinois from 1966 until 2005 when he decided to return to the country building a log home. He served as a two term village trustee as well as two terms on the Sherman/Williamsville School Board. Jim was instrumental in starting the Williamsville High School football team. He was also a member of the original Sherman volunteer fire department and a member of the Sherman Methodist Church. He had also been President of the North Sangamon County Kiwanis Club. Jim decided to return to his childhood home in Boonville Missouri in 2021.

 Jim had been active in high school and collegiate athletics. He loved trout fishing in Missouri and Arkansas, traveling, American history & literature, woodworking, country humor, and barbershop musical harmony.

 Jim is preceded in death by his wife of 65 years, Lettie Anne Hicks of Hannibal Missouri.

 He is survived by his two daughters Lisa (Jim) Stone of Sparta Tennessee and Leigh (Chris) Flatt of Rochester Illinois. He has two grandsons Drew (Abby) Flatt of Chatham Illinois and Taylor (Malvika) Flatt of Blue Springs Missouri. He has a great granddaughter Anna Flatt of Chatham Illinois and a great grandson Arius Flatt of Blue Springs Missouri.

 Memorial contributions may be directed to United Church of Christ at 416 7th St. Boonville Missouri 65233, Sherman Methodist Church at 2336 East Andrew Rd, Sherman Illinois 62684 or St.Jude Children's Research Hospital.

 Visitation for Jim will be held on Friday, August 23, 2024 from 9:00 until time of memorial services at 10:00 AM at the Sherman Methodist Church in Sherman, Illinois. Burial will be held immediately after the services at Walnut Hill Cemetery near Williamsville.

 Mott & Henning Funeral Home is assisting the family. On-line condolences can be shared at www.mottandhenning.com.