James Melvin "Jim" Salava, 78, of rural Burlington, Kansas, passed away early Saturday, November 25, 2023, at the Coffey County Hospital in Burlington.

Jim was born November 11, 1945, at Emporia, KS, the son of Lada Edwin and Erma Marie (Prokop) Salava. His family lived in the Ottumwa area before moving to Jim's current farm home east of Burlington in 1948. Jim attended Lauderdale Rural School through eighth grade and graduated from LeRoy High School in 1963.

On November 12, 1966, he and Linda Jean McMullen were married at the United Methodist Church in Burlington. They lived four miles north of the current home before returning to the home Jim was raised in.

Jim was a life-long farmer and stockman. He had been a member of the Long-Scott Watershed Board and the Pleasant Hill Cemetery Board. He was a good steward of his land and in 1979 he and Linda were awarded the Soil Conservation Award by the Kansas Banker's Association.

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Travis Jae Salava in 1974, and his parents.

He leaves Linda, his wife with whom he celebrated 57 years of marriage two weeks before his death; his son, Terry Salava and his wife Bonnie, Burlington; 3 grandchildren, Timothy Jacob Scheimann, Terry James Salava, Jr., and William Joseph Salava; his brother, John Salava (Donna), LeRoy; two sisters, Mildred Stohs (Norman), Burlington, and Eva Chrisman (Larry Johnson), Burlington; several nieces and nephews; many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be held 1:30 P.M. Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Burlington Methodist Church. Burial will follow in Pleasant Hill Cemetery east of Burlington.

The family will meet with friends from 7:00 to 8:00 P.M. Monday at Jones Funeral Home in Burlington.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Coffey County Cancer Support Group and may be sent in care of Jones Funeral Home, PO Box 277, Burlington, KS 66839.

The service will be live streamed: https://www.facebook.com/jonesfuneralhomeburlingtonks