Obituary for James “Jim” Whittenburg

James “Jim” Everett Whittenburg – Veteran

(December 1, 1940 – February 2, 2018)

James Everett “Jim” Whittenburg, lifelong Blackwell resident, died at his home on Friday evening, February 2, 2017, after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was 77 years of age.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2018, at 10:30 a.m. at the Immanuel Baptist Church in Blackwell, with Pastor Matt Smith officiating. Burial will follow at the Blackwell Cemetery with arrangements under the direction of Roberts and Son Funeral Home. Family visitation will be held on Tuesday, February 6th, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. at the funeral home.

Casket bearers will be his sons, Jimmy Whittenburg, Mark Whittenburg, and Jay Whittenburg; step sons Lewis Kuchar and David Kuchar; and his best friend Jerry Majors.

Honorary Casket bearers will be the Kay County Sheriffs Reserve and Firemen of the Blackwell Fire Department.

Jim was born on December 1, 1940, in Blackwell, the son of Roy Whittenburg and Martha (Cross) Whittenburg Duggins. His mother later married Eddie Duggins and Jim took care of “Grandpa Duggins” long after his mother passed. He loved his step-dad dearly.

He attended the Blackwell Public schools where he was a graduate of the class of 1959.

In June 1962 he married Barbara Jo Drake, and to this union his two sons Jimmy and Mark were born.

He entered the U.S. Army National Guard where he served a six year tour of duty. He went to work for the Blackwell Police Dept for three years and then decided to become a member of the Blackwell Fire Department on August 1, 1968. He obtained the rank of Deputy Chief in May of 1988 until his retirement on December 31, 1994.

In 1981 he married Barbara Rupe and he then adopted her son, Jay and two daughters, Kristi and Shelly.

Jim worked for the Hackler Funeral Home for a number of years, which also included the McCafferty-Bolick Funeral Home in Tonkawa. He then went to work for Grace Memorial Chapel Funeral Home in Ponca City from 1993 until 2009. At that time, he went to work for Roberts and Son Funeral Home until 2014 when he retired. But Jim never really stopped working at either funeral home, as he always felt the need to serve the families wherever he was needed.

Jim never met a stranger; he could strike up a conversation with anyone. He was devoted to his family, friends and the City of Blackwell. He helped with various Baseball Leagues and numerous activities throughout the years with his children’s activities. Jim served on the Kay County Sheriffs Reserve for over twenty years and was still serving at the time of his passing. He was very proud of the Reserves and the roll he participated in that capacity. He was member of the Immanuel Baptist Church and also a member of the American Legion – Russell Litchfield Post 7.

His enjoyments were dancing, just visiting friends, hunting and fishing. Every May, Jim and Jerry Majors had a “special hunting trip they both lived for!” He enjoyed going to the firing range and practicing his skills as an excellent marksman.

He married Nancy Kuchar on Nov 1, 2008, in Silver Dollar City, Missouri, and they continued to make Blackwell their home. Nancy and Jim shared a lot of wonderful times together traveling and visiting family and were able to take a cruise a few months back. Jim loved his family dearly. He loved his grandchildren and great-grandchildren where Jim could entertain the kids for hours with his “spot on” voice of Donald Duck, whereas he then became affectionately known as “Papa Duck”! Jim had a wonderful sense of humor and he will be greatly missed.

Jim is survived by his wife, Nancy, of the home; sons, Jimmy Whittenburg and Mark Whittenburg and wife Brenda, all of Marble Falls, Texas; son, Jay Whittenburg and wife Mire of Brighton, Colorado; daughters, Kristi Thompson of Winfield, Kansas, and Shelly Whittenburg of Santa Fe, New Mexico; step-children, Angela Myers of Rosalia, Kansas; Lewis Kuchar and wife, Lisa and David Kuchar and wife Jami all of South Haven, Kansas; eighteen grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; and two half-sisters, Brenda Phillips of Deatsville, Alabama, and Susan Whittenburg of Blackwell.

He was preceded in death by his parents; step-dad Eddie Duggins; and a daughter-in-law, Becky Whittenburg.

Memorial Contributions can be made in Jim’s Honor to Hospice of North Central Oklahoma, 445 Fairview, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601 or Immanuel Baptist Church Building Fund, 1600 S. 13th Street, Blackwell, Oklahoma 74631.