James Elwood Eshenaur, MD
James (Jim) Elwood Eshenaur, born August 30, 1929 in Point Pleasant, West Virginia, passed away at age 93 on January 19, 2023. He is survived by children Debra (Desh) Lee Anderson and Walter Clair Eshenaur, their spouses David Anderson and Tannie Eshenaur, six grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Jim’s beloved wife Marion Eshenaur passed away February 11 th , 2022.
Dr. Jim, as he was fondly called, attended Iowa Wesleyan College in Mount Pleasant, Iowa as a pre-med major where he was granted a bachelor’s degree in 1952. Prior to attending medical school, Jim felt God’s call to Christian ministry. To pursue this, he attended Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois where he graduated with a Master of Theology in 1955. While at Seminary he met Marion Jacobson and the two were married June 14, 1952. Jim attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Chicago from 1955 to 1959 and graduated with a Doctor of Medicine degree. Jim, Marion, and their two young children moved to Panama for his internship and two years of residency following medical school.
Dr. Jim and Marion both felt called to the mission field and served as missionaries together under the Baptist General Conference Mission (now Converge) in Ethiopia from 1962-1976 and Cameroon from 1984-1994. Jim used his medical expertise during their years as missionaries and also practiced at Chisago Lakes Hospital and Clinic in Chisago City, Minnesota (1976 to 1984), and at Valley Family Health Care in Emmett, Idaho (1995 to 2000).
His life distilled was one of formidable intellect, integrity, service, and generosity. He quietly modeled these qualities to those he touched, but more importantly, he wove them into his daily walk with his Lord.
A funeral service will be held for Dr. Jim at 11:00 A.M., on Friday, February 24, 2023, at the Living Hope Bible Church (formerly Ustick Baptist Church), 14301 W. McMillan Rd. in Boise with visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M. A committal service will follow at 2:00 P.M. at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise.
A memorial service for both Dr. Jim and Marion Eshenaur will be held at Community of Nations Church, formerly Bethany Baptist Church), 2025 Skillman Ave, Roseville, Minnesota on Saturday, March 25, 2023, at 10:00 A.M.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to Converge International, 11002 Lake Hart Drive, Orlando, FL 32832.
Arrangements are under the direction of Bowman Funeral Parlor of Garden City.