James "Jim" Thornbrugh

James Franklin “Jim” Thornbrugh, 79, of Waverly, passed away Thursday, October 5, 2017. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Thursday, October 12, 2017, at Dengel & Son Mortuary. Mr. Thornbrugh will lie in state from 1:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M., Wednesday, October 11, 2017, at the mortuary. Interment Pleasant View Cemetery, Agricola, Kansas, with military honors by the United States Air Force Honor Guard. Jim was born Sunday, March 13, 1938, in Galva, Illinois, the son of Clem Weaver and Emma Elizabeth (Hammock) Thornbrugh. He was raised in Illinois moving to the Williamsburg, Kansas area with his family when he was 16 years old. He later moved to Ottawa, Kansas and in 1970, to Waverly, Kansas. He graduated from Williamsburg High School in 1956. Jim was employed as a shop foreman and mechanic at Sheldon’s Truck and Tractor International Harvester Dealer in Ottawa from 1964 to 1976. He also was employed as a shop foreman at Bushman’s Construction, later known as Dufer Bridge Company at Waverly. Jim enlisted in the United States Air Force from 1957 to 1963. He then served in the Kansas Army National Guard in Ottawa for two years. In the late 1970s, he enlisted in the Kansas Air National Guard in Topeka, where he was stationed at Forbes Air Field. During his career, Jim became the superintendent of the Refueling Operations of the 190th Air Wing also known as the “Kansas Coyotes”. Jim was a veteran of Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He received numerous awards and recognitions including the Air Force Outstanding Unit award, National Defense Service medal, Air Force overseas ribbon, Air Force Longevity service award ribbon and Air Reserve Forces Meritorious service award. He retired in March 1998 where he obtained the rank of Senior Master Sergeant. Jim was united in marriage to Judith Van Valkenburg October 16, 1957, in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. She survives of the home. Other survivors include three sons, Dale Thornbrugh of Williamsburg, Robert Thornbrugh and wife Mary of Waverly, and Larry Thornbrugh also of Waverly. He was preceded in death by his parents, Clem and Emma Thornbrugh; son, Mark Thornbrugh who died in 1986; eight siblings, Patricia Shoutteet, Dorothy Thornbrugh, Pearl Hinkes, Richard Thornbrugh, Willard “Bill” Thornbrugh, Anna Phelps, Donald Thornbrugh, and an infant sibling that died at birth. Jim attended Williamsburg United Methodist Church and the First Southern Baptist Church of Ottawa. He was a member of the Air Force Sergeants Association and an avid supporter of the National Rifle Association. He enjoyed being a farmer and stockman raising cows and pigs in Waverly. Jim’s interests were hunting, fishing, boating, firearms, woodworking and photography. He developed film in his own darkroom and later moved his photographs to digital media. Jim took many beautiful photographs of sunsets on the family farm. The family suggests memorial contributions to Coffey County Cancer Support Group c/o Dengel & Son Mortuary, 235 S. Hickory, Ottawa, Kansas 66067. Family and friends are encouraged to post their condolences and memories on Jim’s Tribute Wall at www.dengelmortuary.com