James E. Belknap

James E. Belknap passed away on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 at Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center in Poplar Bluff. He was 90 years old. James E. Belknap was born January 7, 1923 in Bismarck, Missouri to Elbert and Anna Belknap. His father was killed in a train accident when he was just eleven years old.
In 1935, his mother and he along with other relatives relocated to Poplar Bluff and his mother, Anna, purchased the Patton Drug Store, and James enrolled in Poplar Bluff Junior High. During high school James was very involved in basketball. He was especially proud to have lettered all four years, and in having gone to the second round of district tournament play during his senior year. Also, during high school James worked at various part time jobs and met his beloved future wife, Marge.
Following his Poplar Bluff High School graduation in 1941 he began attending college at the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO where he rushed and pledged the Sigma Chi Fraternity, but his education plan was interrupted by World War II. He was commissioned as an Army 2nd Lieutenant and later fought for his country in the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge. On March 16, 1944 he married Marge Boeving. He was honorably discharged from the Army in 1946.
He then methodically began a career of successful endeavors including the Belknap Drug Store, cotton gins, farming, cable television, computer data processing, and banking.
Following along in step with his business interests was his commitment to supporting virtually every facet of community progress in Poplar Bluff in such areas as education, athletics, arts, recreation, commerce, revitalization, medical, religious, and charity.
He was an avid supporter of the community sales tax initiative for the Highway 67 expansion project and believed it to be a pinnacle achievement for the future growth and development of Poplar Bluff. He was named the Chamber of Commerce Citizen of the Year in 2005.
He credited his father in law, the late Hugo Boeving, for his example and inspiration. He constantly identified Marge, his wife of 69 years, as the best thing to ever happen to him and as the ""love of his life"". He was truly devoted to his children, Brian and Joan, and to his grandchildren and great grandchildren, his many friends, his church and God.
He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Marge; and by his children Brian Belknap and wife, Maria; Joan Bullington and husband, Stan all of Poplar Bluff;
grandchildren: Lilli and Rick Hurst of Poplar Bluff, Monica and Steve West of Fenton, Missouri, Brian Richard Belknap II and Michelle of Poplar Bluff, Julie and Steve Otto of Springfield, Missouri, James and Maria Childress of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and Todd Bullington of Poplar Bluff; great grandchildren: Olivia Hurst, Sabrina Hurst, Hannah West, Sophia West, Alexa West, Brian Richard Belknap III (Tripp), Braden Belknap, Brett Belknap, Jacob Otto, John Otto, Bennett Otto, and Sonnie Childress.
A Rosary Service will begin at 5:30 p.m. at Cotrell Funeral Chapel on Friday, October 18th with visitation following from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. A Funeral Mass will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 19th at Sacred Heart Catholic Church with Father David N. Coon officiating. Interment will follow at the Catholic Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at 123 North 8th Street, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901, or the Sacred Heart Catholic School at 111 North 8th Street, Poplar Bluff, MO 63901.