James Wesley Cleveland

March 3, 1927 - December 13, 2016

James Wesley Cleveland, age 89, of Brookfield, passed away at 11:23 pm on Tuesday, December 13, 2016, at Life Care Center of Brookfield surrounded by his family. Funeral Services will be held Monday, December 19, 2016 at Park Baptist Church beginning at 11:00 am with Reverend David Blakely officiating. Burial will follow at Rosehill Cemetery. Visitation will be held Sunday, December 18, 2016 beginning at 3:00 pm at Rhodes Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 6:00-8:00 pm. A Masonic service will be held beginning at 5:30 pm. Memorials have been suggested to the Shriners Children's Hospital and may be sent to or left at the funeral home, 216 Linn Street, Brookfield, Missouri 64628. On-line registry at www.rhodesfh.com He was born on March 3, 1927, in Reynolds, Illinois, the son of Loren Emerson Cleveland & Emma Louise (Mairs) Cleveland. James was a 1947 graduate of Brookfield High School. James served as a Merchant Marine for two years during World War II. He was drafted by the Army and served 2 years in Korea. James was a long standing member of the Masonic Lodge for over 50 years. He was an Ararat Shriner, with membership in the Tri-County Shrine Club. He was also a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He owned and operated his own laundry truck early in his career before moving into sales. In 1963, he began working as a salesman in the automobile industry. After a long career, he retired in 1997. On August 5, 1950 he married Wilma Jean Bachtel in Brookfield, Missouri. He is preceded in death by his parents, Loren Emerson and Emma Louise Cleveland, his stepmother, Mary (Townsend) Cleveland and his two brothers, John Cleveland and Charles Cleveland. Those surviving him include: his wife, Wilma Jean Cleveland of Brookfield, Missouri; his son, Larry (Arlene) Cleveland of Brookfield, Missouri; his daughter, Linda (Floy) Switzer of DeSoto, Kansas; 3 sisters and 1 brother, Virginia (Bill) Gaston, and Nancy (Ray) Asay of Aurora, Missouri; Freda (Billy) Ogburn of Shawnee, KS; Herb (Demetra) Cleveland of Huntsville, Alabama; five grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. James enjoyed camping, fishing and spending time with his family. He will be dearly missed.