James Mason Jeneral
September 23rd, 1948 – May 14th, 2026
James Mason “Jim” Jeneral, 77 of St Louis Missouri passed away May 14th , 2026, after a period of declining health. James was born in Worcester Massachusetts on September 23rd, 1948 the second of four sons born to Francis B. and Claire Mason Jeneral. He grew up in Webster Massachusetts, attended the St. Louis school, and graduated from Bartlett High School, class of 1966. He impatiently waited until his 18th birthday to enlist in the United States Marine Corps in the fall. He did a tour of duty in the Republic of Vietnam, stationed at Danang, He was there during the “Tet” offensive. He was always proud of his service in the Marine Corps.
Upon his return he was employed by Cranston Print works in Webster, Hammond Plastics in Worcester and Owensboro Kentucky, where he helped build a new plant and managed it. He then went to Ciba Geigy as a production manager and later
moved to the Saint Louis area and was employed by Contico as a shift supervisor. He later got his CDL and was a long haul trucker for 17 years. He resided in Granite city Illinois and was commander of VFW post 1300 for a period of time. He moved to Saint Louis in 2022 for health reasons.
Jim’s hobbies in life were his cars, in particular his Corvette. Many afternoons were spent adding performance parts and racing at the Dragway in Granite City. He was an avid runner in his younger years, completing many 10K races. He was always a fisherman, enjoying the outdoors. He participated in two Grand Canyon backpacking trips that he really enjoyed with his family. Many miles training with a fully loaded backpack in the area of Cahokia Mounds, even being stopped by curious police officers.
James was preceded in death by his daughter Chelsea of Granite City Illinois, his parents, Francis B. Jeneral, Claire Mason Jeneral, younger brother Jeffrey Jeneral of Dudley Massachusetts, nephew Zachary Jeneral of Oxford Massachusetts.
James is survived by his brother Francis A. Jeneral and his wife Judith of Charlton Massachusetts, Neil R. Jeneral and his partner Ingrid Allen of Swanzey, New Hampshire, his Daughter Debbie Jeneral of Sturbridge Massachusetts, a granddaughter, Sara of Cleveland Ohio, grandsons Mike, and Jimmy Freedman and several great grandchildren.
James will be laid to rest with his parents in Webster, Massachusetts in the near future.
Jim was my neighbor in Granite City prior to moving to STL in 2022. Jim was a true gentleman and was a fabulous neighbor. My wife and I have missed him since moving. We’re so sorry to hear about his passing. RIP Dear Friend.
Jim and I were neighbors for many years. My wife and I had moved into the neighborhood a few years before Jim moved in. We weren’t instantly friends, he was quiet and mostly kept to himself. He didn’t like where my fence was, or where one of the trees I had planted was located. The first year he called the police on me for fireworks on the 4th of July. I eventually just caught him in his backyard one day and looked him in the eye and said that if he ever had an issue he only needed to talk to me about it and I’d fix it. I guess I kind of earned his respect because after that we became fast friends (I did move the fence eventually lol.)
We started getting to know each other and the parallels were quite frankly uncanny. He was born on the 23rd of September just like my daughter and we started celebrating them together whenever we could. He instantly took to her as she was close to the same age as his first daughter had been. I myself was born on the same day as his mother. Heck, even though I was greatly saddened when he moved the young lady that bought his place was named Chelsea.
He was a Marine, a combat veteran, at the time I was in the Navy Seabees and Marines kept me alive when my country called me to serve in Iraq for most of 2007 and 2008. He was always there to help my wife with a dead bird, or my son repairing something, or chasing away neighborhood boys from my daughter’s window. After I transferred to the Air Force I moved to Atlanta as an instructor in 2013. My wife followed a year later while my kids worked and went to college while staying in the house. He was always there for them, I never worried knowing that.
I’ve never had a lot of male friends in my life. Jim was one of them. A man I liked and respected and put into the same category as my father or grandfather among great men in my life.
I will truly miss him.