James Woestman Obituary

Mayor James Gallagher Woestman, 89, passed away at home on Saturday, July 19, 2025. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Patricia Lou Hill Woestman, in 2010. His parents, William Henry and Marie Susan Gallagher Woestman, moved to Carthage when Mr. Kent Steadley hired his father to be the plant manager at the Steadley Company. Before moving down the street, they lived next door to Mark Twain Elementary School and Jim was always a proud Mark Twain Indian. Jim followed in his father's footsteps and eventually became an independent salesman in the bedding and furniture industry and driving 50,000 miles a year to see customers as far away as New Mexico, South Dakota, and west Texas. Santa Fe was one of his favorite places.Jim loved to travel and took his family numerous times to meet their Woestman Kuhlman relatives in Germany. He and Pat were asked to join several of his customers' trips to Europe because they knew everyone on the trip would have a good time if Jim and Pat joined them. Jim attended Benedictine College and Kansas State College of Pittsburg. Jim was a man of service and enjoyed giving back. Many in the area have fond memories of his being "Coach" of the Broadview Swim Team, building on his lifelong love of swimming. He swam for Kansas State College of Pittsburg (now Pittsburg State University). He served with the Knights of Columbus in both Joplin and Carthage, most recently at Marian Days. He was most proud of being elected to the City Council and then serving as Mayor of Carthage. He was always surprised at the number of friendly waves he received when he rode in Pat's Oldsmobile Cutlass 442 in the Maple Leaf Parade. Jim He also served as a surveyor in the US Army between the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He completed basic training at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, and then served as a surveyor stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas. Always an avid car enthusiast, his proudest purchase was a Morgan in his retirement. When he started working, he noticed that the successful salesmen drove Oldsmobiles, just like his father did, partly because they were the only sedan tall enough for his father to wear his hat while driving. He drove an Austin-Healey until his daughter was born since, as he said, sports cars and little children don't mix, but recaptured that fun when he purchased another one in retirement. In 1969, Jim purchased a converted red Ford van to take his family camping before minivans were cool. Until the very end, he owned a motor home of various types. His last was a 1973 FMC just like Charles Kuralt drove. He loved to get caught in blizzards in western Kansas so that he could park the motor home, turn on the generator, and work on his model trains. When Jim's train collection outgrew his basement, he purchased the "Sam Hill" Building across from the post office. He loved greeting people who stopped by and had plenty of room to store not only his trains and cars but also his "stuff." He also enjoyed spending time at the cabin he and Pat built at the Lake of the Ozarks. He loved to fish and also went on numerous fishing trips all over with his buddies from Carthage and beyond. Visitation will be held from 5-7 pm Wednesday at Ulmer Funeral Home and his Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 am on Thursday, 24 July at St. Ann's Catholic Church with burial at Park Cemetery immediately after. Pall bearers will be Carthage Fire Chief Jason Martin, Carthage Police Chief Bill Hawkins, Carl Junction Detective Greg Dagnan, Jasper County Sheriff Randee Kaiser, Newton County Sheriff Matt Stewart, and retired Carthage Fire Chief Roger Williams. Honorary pall bearers are Gary Gillum and Mayor Dan Rife. Any contributions can be made to the Children's Center of Southwest Missouri in care of Ulmer Funeral Home. Jim was born 11 December 1935 and married Patricia Lou Hill in Kansas City, MO, on 17 August 1963. He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Kelly Alicia Woestman, Carl Junction, MO; Samuel Scott Woestman, Rogersville, MO: and grandson Macallan Lawrence Woestman (Jessica Brundridge). His oldest brother, Father William H. Woestman, preceded him in death in 2023. He is also survived by four brothers and sisters: Mary Susan Woestman Mathews, Burlington, KY; Patricia Irene Woestman (Ed) Corich, Creve Coeur, MO; Eugene Thomas Woestman, Lexington, KY; and Richard Frances (Daphne) Woestman, Williamsburg, Virginia; and sixteen nieces and nephews who loved their "Uncle Jim." The family would like to give special thanks to family friends Gary Gillum, Hector Gonzalez, and Glenita Browning, and the staff of Visiting Angels and Gentiva Hospice Care.