Jim Widner, age 75, of O’Fallon, Missouri, passed away at his home on Oct. 3, 2021, with his wife of 48 years, Lana, by his side. He was born in 1946 in an ambulance on a bridge in Hartville, MO, to Flossie (Pearman) Widner and Jesse Lawson Widner.  He was a graduate of Lebanon High School and the University of Missouri.  He received an MA in Music from Memphis State University and did postgraduate work at the University of North Texas.  He was married to Lana (Enloe) Widner on June 30, 1973, in Jefferson City, MO.

Survivors include: wife Lana; son Lance Widner (Stephanie Kiefer) of Larchmont, NY; Jamie Perrin (Jason) of Mansfield, TX; grandson James Perrin, and granddaughters Zoe and Mila Widner; father-in-law Marvin Enloe; nine nieces and nephews, eight great nieces and nephews and six great great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters Jessie Jordan, Mary Jane Snodgrass; and mother-in-law Jane Enloe.

Jim enjoyed a storied career as a member of the big bands of Stan Kenton, Woody Herman, and the Glenn Miller Orchestra.  As a bassist, he played alongside many jazz luminaries and performed at the world famous Lionel Hampton and Montreaux Jazz Festivals.  For 35 years, Jim led the Jim Widner Big Band which performed concerts throughout the United States and inspired students through his legendary summer jazz camps.  The band recorded six critically acclaimed albums. A Professor Emeritus/Jazz Studies at the University of Missouri – St. Louis, he received the Faculty Excellence Award  from the university. Jim was twice named the Outstanding Jazz Educator by the Missouri Association for Jazz Education.  He was also recognized as a Jazz Hero by the Jazz Journalist Association.  As founder and artistic director of the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival,  Mayor Lyda Krewson proclaimed April 11, 2019, “Jim Widner Jazz Education Day” in the City of St. Louis. Students at the University of Missouri renamed the music wing at the Fine Arts Residential College “Widner House” in his honor and the title of “Statesman” was conferred upon him by the Statesmen of Jazz in recognition of a “brilliant career of creative musical achievements in performance and education”. He was featured in the cover story of JazzEd Magazine and Downbeat Magazine gave him a lifetime achievement award for his work in jazz education. He was a founding member of the Jazz Education Network (JEN) and hosted the first JEN annual conference on his campus at The University of Missouri – St. Louis. He was also a performing artist for Yamaha and D’Addario.

In addition to all of the awards and recognitions, Jim took the most pride in his University of Missouri – St. Louis jazz ensemble where he inspired a generation of students to strive for perfection, to be their best selves, and to nurture a love of jazz. He was proud to have taken several student bands on tours of China, Italy and France, as well as performing twice at the Missouri Music Educators Conference and the Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago, and at the JEN Conference in Dallas.

Jim’s full life of professional and educational successes was made complete by his love and devotion to his family. He was an adoring husband and father; a playful and attentive grandfather; a kind and considerate son-in-law, brother-in-law and uncle.  He will be deeply missed, not only by them, but by the legion of extended family and friends whose lives he touched.

A Musical Celebration to Honor the Life and Legacy of Jim Widner will be held at 2:00 p.m., October 23, 2021, at the Lee Theater, Touhill Performing Arts Center, University of Missouri – St. Louis.

Expressions of sympathy may be made to:

JEN: https://members.jazzednet.org/donations/in-memory-of-jim-widner/

The University of Nebraska – Omaha Jazz Camp

St. Charles Community College Jazz Camp.

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