James Corley Stumpf

James Corley Stumpf, 87 of Pana, IL, passed away on Sunday, July 13, 2025, at Highland Health Center in Highland, IL.

He was born on November 8, 1937, in Pana, IL, to James Sayre and Ruth Etta (nee Corley) Stumpf. On June 6, 1992, he married Barbara Sue Shepherd, in Clarksville, TN.

James pursued a military career in the U.S. Army, with five years in Germany, many stateside tours, and duty with the First Infantry Division in Vietnam. He received numerous awards including the Legion of Merit medal, Bronze Star medal with “V” device; Bronze Star medal with second oak leaf cluster, the Air Medal, the Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry medal, the Combat Infantry Badge and the Army Parachutist badge. He retired from the U.S. Army with 22 years of service in the grade of Lieutenant Colonel. He was later employed by the Department of the Army and assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve Personnel Center, St. Louis, MO. He served in several positions at the Center finally becoming the Director of Army Reserve Micrographic personnel records program with 16 years total Federal service achieved. For this period of Department of the Army service he received the Commanders Award for exemplary achievement. He continued to service to veterans as a member in Veterans of Foreign Wars, active with Post 9777, Salem, AR and Post 55 of the American Legion, Mammoth Spring, AR.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Ruth Stumpf; son, Mark Stephen Stumpf; brother, Frederick Stumpf; and granddaughter, Ariana Stumpf Jacobus.

James is survived by his wife of 33 years, Barbara Sue, Granite City, IL; brothers, Stephen Strumpf and Robert Stumpf, both of Pana, IL; sister, Ruth Ann Barnstable, Carterville, IL; stepson, Steven (Marcelle) Shepherd; grandson, David Shepherd, granddaughters, Barbara Shepherd and Jamie Wadkins; nephews, Robbi Stumpf, Pana, IL, Matt Barnstable, Carterville, IL; niece, Rebecca Dyer, Normanhurst, Australia.

Private services will be held at Meridith Funeral Home in Highland, IL.

Public services will be held at Carter Funeral Home in Thayer, MO, at a later date.

Interment: Thayer Cemetery, Thayer, MO

Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL