James "Jim" Leroy Wilkinson

James Leroy Wilkinson was born on February 16, 1952, in Kansas City, Missouri, and passed away on July 24th, 2022, in Overland Park, Kansas. He was the youngest of five children born to Mary Josephine Ratliff and Leroy Albert Wilkinson. He attended Southwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri, and went on to graduate with his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the University of Missouri. Jim was the president of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity while at Mizzou and loved to entertain people with stories of antics that could rival anything you see in the movie Animal House.

He had a very large presence in the insurance business over his decades-long career, working for and with many different agencies in the Kansas City metropolitan area.

Jim was an enthusiastic (albeit not always the most skilled) golfer, and a diehard fan of Mizzou athletics no matter how many times they broke his heart. He had a deep appreciation for music that lives on within his children, inspiring a love of 60’s and 70’s rock as well as new wave 90’s grunge. Jim was comedian Rodney Dangerfield’s biggest fan, and never missed an opportunity to perform impressions of his comedy routines.

He is survived by his children Peter and Claire Wilkinson, as well as their mother and his former wife DeDee Schalk Wilkinson. He is additionally survived by his dear brother John Wilkinson, his sister-in-law Lynn, and his many nieces and nephews of whom he was so very fond.

His visitation will take place on Thursday, July 28th at Amos Family Funeral Home from 1:00-2:00 pm with a service to follow.

Jim never knew a stranger, never met a dessert he wouldn’t eat, and as an old soul never did quite come into the 21st century. He was beloved by so many and will be truly and deeply missed.