H. "Jim" James Brechbiel

H. James "Jim" Brechbiel, 78, of rural Berwick, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family,  Saturday January 6, 2018, in Peoria, Illinois.  He was born Tuesday December 19, 1939 the son of Harold and Catherine (Newcomer) Brechbiel.

He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Lois Mae (Forrester) Brechbiel; children April (Andy) Suter of Avon, IL and Timothy James (Debra) Brechbiel of Platte City, MO; and grandchildren Tyler Joseph Suter (fiancée Jacqueline Shepler) of Black Creek, WI, Caitlin Mae Suter (fiancée Drew Harmon), Kenneth James Suter and Edie Elizabeth Suter, of Avon, IL.  He is also survived by siblings Nan Brechbiel Clugston, Joseph (Sue) Brechbiel, and Mary Ann Brechbiel of Newburg, PA; Rachel Brechbiel (Chris) Peitz of Hagerstown, PA; and Cleveland and Ruth Forrester of Chambersburg, PA and many nieces and nephews including Dustin Swope of Waynesboro, PA.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother (Nathan Brechbiel) and his son, (Joseph Harold Brechbiel).

Jim graduated from Shippensburg Area High School in 1958 as the FFA Chapter Secretary and then served in the United States Marine Corp finishing with an assignment in Japan.  He moved to Illinois to raise corn and kids and used his carpentry skills in his family’s home and on the dairy farm.  He was awarded Warren County Farm Conservationist of the Year for making land improvements and added areas for wildlife and reintroducing pheasants to the farm land.  Jim loved studying the Bible and had taught a Sunday School class and currently was attending Lighthouse Baptist Church in Monmouth.  After selling the dairy herd he worked at the Monmouth Monsanto Research farm for several years.  He was a life member of the American Legion and served as the Chaplain and on the Honor Guard.  Jim competed in the Illinois State Cornhusking and National contests and served as the Treasurer while promoting the skill of picking corn by hand.  He enjoyed time with his grandchildren and working on his Oliver and Minneapolis Moline tractors.

Funeral service will be Friday January 12, 2018, 10:00 a.m. at the Wise Family Funeral Home Roseville, IL.  Jim’s family will be at the Wise Family Funeral Home on Thursday January 11, 2018 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. to receive friends and neighbors.  Burial will be at Lenox Union Township Cemetery with military honors following the funeral service.  Memorials may be given to the Illinois Cornhusking Association Wagon Fund, the Lawson Babbitt American Legion Post 614 Veteran’s Honor Flight Fund or the Carl Sandburg College Joe Brechbiel Memorial Scholarship Fund.  Please sign the online guestbook at www.wisefamilyfuneralhome.com.  Wise Family Funeral Home Roseville, IL is in charge of the arrangements.