James Thomas Papproth, age 29, of Belleville, Ill., born September 5, 1988, was granted eternal rest in the peace of God, August 25, 2018.

James graduated from Belleville West High School, worked as a laborer, and loved riding motorcycles. He enjoyed reading about world history and the Civil War. He was smart and crafty and loved playing with his nephews. James often spent time cemetery-hunting with his Grannie, Babe, helping to maintain and restore old tombstones, while gathering genealogical information. He attended St. Clare Catholic Church with his Grannie, where he found peace.

He was preceded in death by his grandfathers James Papproth and Bill Wells, and his cousin Natalie.

Surviving are a large family, to include his loving parents Troy and Stephanie, nee Wells, Papproth, of Belleville, his Grannie Babe Papproth of O'Fallon, his grandmother Margaret Sanderson of Belleville, his sisters Samantha Papproth and Brooke Devine, his beloved little nephews Graham, Kyrie, and Hayden, his aunts and uncles Dawn Kuhn, Rhett (Cindy) Papproth, Whitney (Bill) Bettorf, Nicol (Dennis) Adams, Melinda (Gordon) Beck, and Andrew Wells, great aunt Marlie (Jeff) Paxson, and his cousins, Melanie, Heath, Chloe, Jessica, Greg, Courtney (Caleb), Elliott (Bre), Maggie, Weston, Richard, Anthony, Stephanie, Matt, Greg, Cassidy, and Cameron.

In lieu of flowers and other gifts, memorial donations are suggested to either St. Clare Catholic Church or O'Fallon History Museum, and will be accepted at the funeral home.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 5:00 – 8:00 pm, Wednesday, August 29, 2018, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, O'Fallon, Illinois.

A Prayer Service will be held at 11 am, Saturday, September 15, 2018 at St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church, with Rev. Jim Deiters officiating. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Catholic Cemetery, Shiloh.