Reverend James Luther Brassfield, 60, Gillett, died Monday afternoon, July 31, 2000, at the home of his sister in Streator, IL.
He was born Oct. 15, 1939, in Streator, IL, to the late Everette and Margaret (Sedory) Brassfield. James served in the U.S. Army from 1957 until 1959. He graduated from Ft. Lauderdale University in 1967, with a M.A. in Business Administration and Concordia Seminary, Springfield, IL, in 1972, with a M. Div. in Theology. On Aug. 24, 1968, James married Jacqueline M. Lechman at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lisle, IL. His pastorates included Siloam Springs, Ark. (1972-1976), Kenosha, WI, (1976-1978), Coventry, England (1978-1980), Pulcifer and Green Valley, WI. (1980-1989). After resigning from Green Valley, he served Pulcifer and St. John Lutheran Church, Clintonville, until he accepted a call to Worthington, MN, where he retired in 1999, from the Lutheran Ministry and moved to Gillett. He served as a Lutheran Clergyman in the LC-MS for 28 years. James was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, Pulcifer. He was a member of the Rotary Club, in Arkansas and a member of the Stewardship Board, in the Minnesota South District.
Survivors include his wife, Jackie, Gillett; five children and their spouses, Jonathan and Jamie of Green Bay, Joel and Candy of Rushmore, MN, Jessica and Steve Cam of Adrian, MN, Jody and Tina of Worthington, MN and Joshua of Worthington, MN, one grandson, Brandon Brassfield. He is also survived by two sisters and brothers-in-law, Marilyn and Bill Sherod of Weslaco, Texas and Eunice and James Arrington of Streator, IL; a brother and sister-in-law, Eugene and Betty of Streator, IL.
Visitation was held from 4 to 9 p.m. Friday, at the Kuehl Funeral Home, Gillett, and then at St. John Lutheran Church, Pulcifer, Saturday after 9:30 a.m. Funeral services were held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the church, with the Rev. John Laatsch officiating. Interment in the church cemetery, with military rites conducted by the Gillett American Legion and VFW.