EFFINGHAM — James J. Hastings, 84, of Effingham, went to be with his Lord and Savior at 9:40 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 17, 2012, at St. John's Hospital, Springfield.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church, Effingham, with the Rev. Roger Marshall officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Effingham. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Johnson Funeral Home, Effingham. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, Effingham. Online condolences may be expressed at www.johnsonandsonsfh.com.
James was born on May 5, 1928, in Effingham, the son of Louis L. and Alma A. (Boggs) Hastings. On Sept. 6, 1947, Jim married Marcella Sue Gharst. He then married Charlotte (Wines) Mehl on Oct. 19, 1984, and she survives.
Jim was an active member of First Baptist Church of Effingham for over 65 years. During that time he served in a number of roles, including treasurer and deacon. Jim graduated from Effingham High School in 1947 and started working at Wards Auto Sales & Repair in Effingham as a bookkeeper. He worked as an accountant in several businesses over the next two decades, including Keller's Furniture Store and Quality Body Works. He became owner and manager of Eisner's Foods in Effingham. Following his time in the grocery store business, Jim created Hastings Tax & Accounting Services, which he ran for many years. He retired after 30 years of service from Effingham Truck Sales, where he served as office manager.
Jim is survived by his wife, Charlotte of Effingham; children, Jennifer (Richard) Martin of Minneapolis, Minn., J. Dennis Hastings of Effingham and Brian J. (Shon) Hastings of Moorhead, Minn; stepchildren, Stanley (Sue) Mehl of Salsbury, N.C., Timothy (Amy) Mehl of Altamont, Debora (Eric) Bosenworth of St. Elmo, Dawn Florido, Doyle (Kris) Mehl and Chad Mehl, all of Effingham; six grandchildren; eight stepgrandchildren; three great-stepgrandchildren; sisters, June Mitchell and Viola Warren, both of Effingham; and sisters-in-law, Barbara Hastings of Branson, Mo., and Mary Miller of Charlottesville, Va. Jim was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers, Louis Hastings, William Hastings and Robert Miller.
