James Francis Pfeifer (Jim), of Chesterfield, Missouri passed away Friday, October 31, 2025 at the age of 87.  He was born July 22, 1938, in Hays, Kansas and was the seventh of nine children born to Daniel and Albina (Dreiling) Pfeifer.  Jim married Sheila (Beilman) on August 19,1961.  Jim and Sheila have two children, nine grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Jim graduated in 1956 from St. Joseph Military Academy in Hays, received a Bachelor of Business degree at Ft. Hays University, and earned a Master of Business Administration from St. Louis University.  Working on the Kansas family farm during his youth with brothers Joe and Mike, he developed some of the qualities that would define him for the rest of his life: a deep respect for hard work, a love of the outdoors, and a rugged sense of pragmatism.

He began his career in the aerospace industry at Boeing in Wichita, Kansas in 1961 and moved to St. Louis in 1968 where he enjoyed a twenty-three year career at McDonnell Douglas as a Financial Manager.  Throughout his distinguished career, Jim worked during the peak of the Space Race and was proud to be among the teams that made the landing of a man on the moon a reality.  Towards the end of his career, he and Sheila spent two years with McDonnell Douglas in Saudi Arabia.  After retiring from McDonnell Douglas, Jim and Sheila moved to Austin, Texas in 1995, where Jim worked as a financial analyst for the State of Texas for ten years and was repeatedly recognized for his contributions.  After moving back to Chesterfield in 2017, Jim was an active member of Ascension Catholic Church, and former member of the Knights of Columbus.

Guided by a deep and unwavering faith, Jim's devotion was evident in all that he did, particularly within his home. He always placed his family and loved ones first ever ready to lend a helping hand, offer words of wisdom, and provide steadfast encouragement.  He rarely missed the family dinner or kids' sporting events and endured multiple Boy Scout camping trips with his sons and grandsons.  Some of his cherished memories include he and Sheila taking each grandchild on a special overseas trip.  In St. Louis, he cherished his time with his brothers, nieces, nephews and their families.

Jim is survived by his wife Sheila; son Steven and wife Deborah of Houston, Texas and their children Thomas, Joe, and Katherine; and his son Gregory and wife Cynthia of Sarasota, Florida and their children Lauren, James, Joseph, Katie McClain and husband Troy and their son Luke, Rosie McClain and husband Bradley, and Genevieve McClain; his twin brother Joseph Pfeifer and wife Mary Ellen of St. Louis, MO; his two sisters, Rose Ann James, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; Susan Haas of Denver, Colorado; and many nieces and nephews.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents Daniel and Albina Pfeifer; his brothers, Wilbert and wives LeeAnn and Shirley; Callistus Pfeifer and wife, Jeannine; Daniel Pfeifer and wife Lorene; Michael Pfeifer and wife, Patricia; his brother-in-law, Frank Haas; and his sister, Helen Catherine.

Services:  Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 Monday November 10, 2025 at Ascension Catholic Church, 230 Santa Maria Drive, Chesterfield, Missouri. The funeral mass will be live streamed at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJKA9gKcBgY

Visitation will be from 3:00 to 6:00 Sunday November 9 with a rosary at 4:30 at the Schrader Funeral Home, 14960 Manchester Road, Ballwin, Missouri. Interment will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Ellisville, Missouri.

Condolences can be left on the family's on-line guestbook at www.schrader.com.

If desired, memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society .