James Joseph “Jim” Fonke, 85, died at his home Sunday, September 15, 2024.
Mass of Christian Burial was Monday, September 23, 2024 at 10:00 a.m., at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with Father Jim Taranto officiating. Burial was in the Englewood Cemetery. Casket Bearers: Cloey Fonke, Noah Fonke, Robert Wharton, Ron Crowder, Jeff Hart and Mark Swaters. Honorary Casket Bearers: Emma Fonke, Sara Stough, Don Hale, Richard Watts and Mike Gregory. Visitation was Sunday, September 22, 2024 from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Bradley & Hadley Funeral Home, Clinton.
The family suggests memorial contributions to Golden Valley Hospice or Clinton Animal Shelter, and these donations may be left in care of the funeral home. They also requested that those attending the funeral wear casual dress because this foundryman, cattleman and shade tree mechanic wouldn’t want anyone to go out of their way to dress up. It just wouldn’t seem right.
Jim was born August 3, 1939 to Albin L. Fonke and Louise Clara (Tophinke) Fonke. He and his little sister, Connie, lost their mom in 1942.
He grew up on a farm near Montrose, MO. He was working in the fields at a very young age. The neighbors thought the tractor was running itself through the fields, but it was a very young Jimmy Joe, barely able to see over the steering wheel.
Jim graduated from Montrose High School and had several jobs before being employed at Gold Foundry for over 40 years. He was a foundry foreman until the business shut down after the death of it’s owner, Milton Gold. He then worked at the Clinton Daily Democrat with his daughter until his retirement.
He met Judy Ann Batschelet during a double date when his friend was with Judy and Jim was with Judy’s friend. Jim informed his buddy that the next week he was dating Judy and so began a lifelong partnership. He knew he had found the right girl when she would help him round up sheep before every Saturday night date. And they were a sight to see, Jim being 6’4” tall and Judy a little of 5’ tall.
Jim and Judy married on January 5, 1962 at the old Catholic Church on Second Street in Clinton. Their daughter, Denise Ann, was born September 2, 1962, and son, James Michael “Mike”, joined the family on December 12, 1964.
Judy died August 8, 2006 of brain cancer, and Jim never dated or remarried. She was the one for him. Although they could fight with the best of them, they hung together for over 44 years.
Jim loved to watch “Jeopardy” every week night with Denise. He loved the Samaritan Center and had belts, shoes, blue jeans and so much more to last him a lifetime. He couldn’t resist a bargain or as he would say, “I couldn’t pass up a deal like that”. He could never pass a “gimme” hat either. He knew where everything on his farm was, even until his dying day. His directions were, for example, “You will find it on the back porch in the north closet on the second shelf behind the paper towels”. It was always where he said it was.
He was very independent after Judy’s death by cooking meals for Denise when she came over to watch “Jeopardy” after work, taking care of his cattle, dogs, cats and chickens, enjoying daily rides with his Italian Greyhound PeeWee (who died St. Patrick’s Day at the age of 18), Saturday trips to town with his daughter and attending church on Sunday, always sitting in the same pew every week, and then visiting Mike and the grandkids afterwards. He was a man with a set schedule and if that schedule was messed up in any way, well, the whole day was a mess. His kids are the same way. He was also a proud member of the Bear Creek Cemetery Association with his daughter.
His independence ended on May 11th, when he was unloading feed sacks and fell over a wheelbarrow after the last sack was emptied, breaking his right leg. After surgery, one nursing home, six weeks at home with Denise as his caregiver, then another stay at the hospital fighting sepsis and staph, he was able to come home with the help of Golden Valley Hospice on September 12th, spending his remaining days with his kids, his dog and his cats.
Jim is survived by his daughter, Denise Smith and husband, Doug, Clinton, MO; his son, Mike and his wife, Tracy, Clinton, MO: grandchildren, who made him so proud, Sara Strough and husband, Shawn, Clinton, MO, Coley Fonke and wife, Brittany, South Carolina; Emma Fonke and her partner, Dillon, Arkansas, and Noah Fonke of Kansas; great-grandson, Donavon Strough, Clinton, MO; sister, Connie Gustafson, Indiana; nephew, Tory Gustafson and wife, Jackie, and their daughters; niece Holly Gustafson; and his dog Cody; and cats, Beeb, Dink and Tux.
In addition to his wife, Judy, and his mother, he was preceded in death by his father, his step-mother, Oleta Fonke, and an infant sister, Mary Louise in 1938.
