James Rigger

Funeral services for James Junior Rigger (Rieger), 96, West Plains, Missouri, will be held at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, May 13, in the Rose Chapel of Robertson-Drago Funeral Home.

Mr. Rigger passed away at 2:16 a.m., Saturday, May 6, 2023, at his home.

He was born July 24, 1926, at Dora, Missouri, to James Rieger and Florence Orwick Rieger. On July 27, 1947, he was married at West Plains, to Phyllis Lorene Dobbs, who preceded him in death on August 24, 2013. Mr. Rigger was a veteran, having served with the United States Army during WWII and received many medals and accomplishments, including the Victory Medal European African Middle Eastern Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Award, Purple Heart Medal, Soldiers Medal and Army Occupation Medal of Germany; he fought in the Ordains-Rhineland Central Europe Campaign. Before his retirement, Mr. Rigger was a lineman at Howell-Oregon Electric Coop. He loved spending time with family and enjoyed being in nature. One of his biggest joys in life was helping people. James was a member of the VFW, Lion's Club, Order of the Eastern Star and was a Mason.

He is survived by two children, Katherine Allee, Nixa, Missouri and Larry Rigger and wife, Kathleen, Springfield, Missouri; one daughter-in-law, Joyce Rigger, Nixa, Missouri; seven grandchildren, Dawn Bruffett, State of New York, James Bruffett and wife, Kendra, Nixa, Missouri, Amber Hopper Gall, Springfield, Missouri, Elizabeth Wheeler and husband, Ben, Springfield, Tara Rigger and significant other, Allan Gibson, Springfield, Serenity Matney and husband, Tony, Lampe, Missouri and Eli Rigger, Nixa, Missouri; nine great-grandchildren, Skyla Bruffett, Henry Matney, Nate, William and Evie Bruffett, Kesler and Surelle Gibson, Ethan Hopper and Adeline Wheeler; two brothers, Lloyd Rieger and wife, Aggie, Twin Falls, Idaho and Norman Rieger, Aniston, Alabama; three sisters-in-law, Joy Rieger, West Plains, Gloria Rieger, Stockton, California and Delores Driscoll and husband, Jim, West Plains; and several nieces and nephews.

His parents, wife, one son, Bradley James Rigger, two great-grandchildren, Chloe Martinez and Jake Wheeler, two brothers, Joseph and Clinton Rieger, one sister-in-law, Peggy Rieger and one brother-in-law, Hervy Dobbs and wife, Donna, preceded him in death.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 until 2:00 p.m., Saturday, at Robertson-Drago Funeral Home. Burial will be in Hale Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Hale Cemetery or Sweeton Pond Cemetery and may be left at or mailed to Robertson-Drago Funeral Home, 211 West Main, West Plains, MO 65775. Online condolences may be expressed at www.robertsondrago.com.