He was born at Lawrence Memorial Hospital on July 7, 1948, and lived for the first few years of his life in Eudora, Kansas. He and his dad, Norman, and his mom, Esther, and his brother Mike, moved to Pomona, California in 1955 so that Jim could get more help in schools and for his dad to find better work. Jim grew up loving to go to Yellowstone with his family, fishing whenever he could in Big Bear Lake, and watching his big brother race cars and play basketball. He and his family moved several times over the next few years: Maryland, Utah and finally settling back in Lawrence, KS. After finishing high school, Jim began working in the Sanitation Department for the City of Lawrence, during which time he earned several awards for his attendance.
Jim was married and divorced twice and owned his own home. He loved to take bus trips with his family and loved going to Branson. But he really loved fishing out at Clinton and would go often until he finally had to move into Assisted Living a few years ago.
Jim died on May 14, 2024, while living at Tonganoxie Terrace. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Mike and a bunch of dogs and cats that he called his kids. He leaves behind his nieces, Lee Ann Combest Dyess (and her husband Scott), Elizabeth Combest Florence, Caitlin Combest and nephew Michael Combest and his sister-in-law Hannes Combest along with five great nieces and five great nephews and one great, great nephew! The family will hold a private service to share “Jim stories” at a date in the future.
The family would like to thank Janice Miller of Lawrence, the staff at Monterey Village Assisted Living Facilities, Tonganoxie Terrace and the Interim Hospice of Topeka and Interim Hospice of Kansas City for their love and care of Jim during the last few years. Jim – we hope you find the lakes are full of fish wherever you land and that you catch the biggest one ever!!
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Interim Hospice or to the Lawrence Humane Society.
