Reverend James W. Rhiver entered Heaven Friday, February 13, 2026. Jim was the beloved husband of Pearl L. Rhiver (nee: Heihn) since July 27, 1963. Jim leaves two daughters Bettyjean M. Bonn and Kyrstin L. Nelson (Andrew) and many loved cousins and friends. He is preceded in death by his father and mother George and Marie Rhiver, and his maternal grandmother, Thekla Niethe.
Jim was baptized, confirmed and married at Timothy Lutheran Church in St. Louis, MO. He started his teaching and youth work ministry August 15, 1963. He served as teacher and youth director at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church, St. Louis, St. John’s, Red Bud, IL, and Holy Cross, Collinsville, IL, as fulltime Minister of Youth while finishing his Master’s s degree in 1971. In 1981 after completing his pastoral training he was ordained and installed as Associate Pastor at Holy Cross St. Louis for 10 years. Weddings became his joy! He retired in 2005, after serving thirteen years as pastor of St. John, Mexico, MO.
In August, 2005, he and Pearl moved back to St. Louis. From 2006-2023 Jim served 11 vacancies in the area, did noonday services at St. Trinity, St, Louis, visited shut-ins for several congregations and served as a volunteer police chaplain in Mexico, Mo and St. Louis County, 4th Precinct. Over the years he composed church songs with guitar for every season of the Church Year, served on the Bd. of Youth Services of the Southern Illinois District of the Lutheran Church-Mo. Synod, wrote devotions for various youth periodicals, designed and led many work trips for youth throughout the United States, and 2008-2025, he and Pearl served on the Planning Committee of a Retreat for Lutheran Older Adults in So. Illinois and Missouri every 18 months.
Pastor Jim loved to be with people, tell good funny jokes (in various brogues) and incite young ones with his magic tricks. God blessed his 86+ years of ministry on this earth and now he is at rest in the Lord. Memorial Service will be at Christ Memorial Lutheran Church, 5252 S. Lindbergh, St. Louis, MO 63126 on Saturday, February, 28 2026. Visitation at 10am, church service starting at 11am.