James Burdette Wedemeyer

James B. Wedemeyer passed away on Saturday, April 9, 2011 in Yuma, AZ. at the age of 75. Jim was born in Exira, Iowa on April 22, 1935. He grew up in Atlantic, Iowa. He graduated from Kansas University with a B.S. Degree in Mechanical Engineering. Within one week in early June of 1959 he graduated from K.U, married his college sweetheart, Connie Klahr, moved to San Diego and began his first engineering job at Convair. He worked as a flight test engineer on the 880 and the Atlas missile.

All his life, Jim loved anything mechanical, especially cars. He loved driving and working on his own cars. When he was fifteen years old he located eight horns in a junkyard. The horns were all a note apart, making an octave. He wired them up on his 35 Ford and played tunes on the steering column.

Jim was very talented musically. He played the baritone in high school bands, college bands and pep bands. He loved to sing and sang in church choirs, choruses, madrigal and quartets.

He was active in his church and served as Treasurer and Social Chairman for his fraternity, Beta Sigma Psi at Kansas University. During his engineering career Jim earned his Engineer-In-Training certificate, followed by his California Professional Mechanical Engineer certificate, and then his Arizona Professional Mechanical Engineer certificate.

In 1967 Jim, with his wife and son, Mark, moved to Kingman, Arizona, where daughter Laurie was born that year. His new job was as Test Engineer at the Ford Arizona Proving Ground. In 1974 he was transferred to Dearborn, Michigan. But he really missed warm, sunny Arizona. In 1976 he moved his family to Yuma, Arizona and he went to work at Yuma Proving Ground. He loved being back in Arizona and lived all the rest of his life in Yuma.

Jim is survived by his wife of 52 years, Connie; son, Mark (Lynette) Wedemeyer; daughter, Laurie (Paul) Mondragon; grandchildren, Sarah, Amy, Jake and Hannah. Also brother, Robert; sister, Ruth and several nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Oscar and Margaret Wedemeyer and sister, Marjorie Kearney.

Jim was strong as well as loving, kind, compassionate, gentle, patient and generous. And he had a great sense of humor. He will be dearly missed by his family and all who knew him.

A memorial service will be held on Thursday, April 14, 2011 at 12:00 p.m. at First Christian Church.

Published on April 13, 2011

Arrangements under the direction of Johnson Mortuary & Desert Lawn Memorial Park, Yuma, AZ.