Jim was born on February 28, 1942 in Lashburn, Saskatchewan, Canada to Jessie and William “Ken” Wilkinson, the second of three brothers. He was raised in and around Paddockwood, Saskatchewan. After graduating high school in Prince Albert and working the assembly line of a Saskatoon tractor plant, Jim emigrated in 1961 to the United States to join the U.S. Army, where he served honorably as a member of the Military Police, stationed primarily in France.

After his military service, Jim settled in Independence, MO, where, in 1965, he became an American citizen and married Dorothy Draveling. In Independence, they welcomed three children. Jim served with distinction in the Independence Police Department, rising to the rank of Captain and receiving his Masters degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. In 1978, his young family resettled in Marshalltown, Iowa, where he became Chief of Police.

Known for his kindness, integrity and effectiveness as Chief, Jim was a respected pillar of the Marshalltown community, active in the Lion's Club and the local Community of Christ congregation, where he served for many years as Presiding Elder. In 1990, nearly a year after Dorothy succumbed to cancer, Jim remarried to Patricia “Pat” Socha, becoming step-father to her four grown children. In 1994, Jim and Pat moved to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he served as Chief of Police until his retirement from the force in 2000. Jim enjoyed an active retirement with Pat in Omaha teaching Criminal Justice courses at Metropolitan Community College and delighting in their grandchildren.

Jim is survived by his children: Jennifer (Glen) Klocke of Waterloo, IA, Suzanne (Ben) Pierce, of Warrensburg, MO, and Will (Kerry) Wilkinson of Los Angeles, CA; step-children Lori (Jerome) Howard of Omaha, NE, Cathy (Bill) Meier of Sioux Falls, SD, Tim Socha of Pea Ridge, AR, and Scott (Heather) Socha of St. Louis, MO; 18 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by his brother Joseph Wilkinson of Chicago, IL. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Dorothy Wilkinson, second wife, Pat Wilkinson; his parents, Ken and Jessie Wilkinson and his elder brother, Herb.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, September 13th at 10:30 a.m. at Heafey-Hoffman-Dworak-Cutler West Chapel Center in Omaha, followed by interment at Omaha National Cemetery at 2:30 p.m.