James Carpenter

James Sykes Carpenter, 82, of Brewster, died Saturday, January 28, 2017, at Citizen’s Medical Center. The second son of Fred and Mary Elizabeth (Sykes) Carpenter, was born in Colby, Kansas at “Passell’s” September 10, 1934.

Jim and his parents lived on a farm located about fifteen miles northeast of Brewster, Kansas, in Thomas County. When Jim was about a year old their home burned and they lost everything. They lived in a cook-shack while a new home was being built.

When Jim started to school he either walked or rode a bicycle to the Quickville School, which was a mile west of his home. His teachers during those years were Lottie Weiland, Edna Keith and Ellen Baird. In 1943 the family moved to Jim’s grandparent’s farm, Red John and Hattie Carpenters, which was four miles north of Brewster. At this time Jim was in the fifth grade and attended school in Brewster. He graduated from Brewster Consolidated High School in 1953.

He grew to manhood on this farm, helping his Dad do the farming and raising Black Angus Cattle. He had a love for farming, especially growing wheat. He also raised milo and corn.

In January of 1956, Jim became a member of the Masonic Lodge # 306, in Colby, Kansas. Then in the spring of 1956 he received his 32nd Degree in Consistory and also joined the Isis Shrine in Salina, Kansas. In May of 2016 he received his 60 year pin from Masonic Lodge # 306. He is a past President of the Brewster Alumni Association, served on the Farmers Coop Board of Directors for six years, was a Quarter Master of the Brewster VFW and he served as a church trustee for the Brewster United Methodist Church, where he also was a member.

On October 2, 1955, Jim and Bonnie Jean Patten, daughter of Lewis and Letha (Duncan) Patten, were married at Colby, Kansas, by Rev. Otis Gunkel, in Rev. and Mrs. Gunkel’s home on Riddle Street. Witnesses were Erma (Baird) Palmgren and Lavelle Palmgren of Levant, Kansas.

To this union two sons were born, Lowell James, born on July 7, 1959, and Wane LeRoy, born on June 18, 1961.

After Jim and Bonnie were married they lived in what the family called the “Sykes Place”, which is located in Sherman County. He continued to help his Dad with the farming.

In February 1957, Jim was called to serve two years in the Army. He took his basic training at Fort Bliss, in El Paso, Texas and spent one and a half years in Germany, stationed at Mannheim. Bonnie stayed with her parents and worked in Colby. In July 1958, she went to Germany to be with Jim. While there, they purchased a new Opel car and did a lot of traveling to Holland, went to the World Fair in Brussels, Belgium, Austria, France and Switzerland. In January 1959 they sent the car home by boat to New York City. Bonnie came home by airplane to Denver and Jim came back on a Navy troop ship. When Jim arrived in New York he picked up the car and drove to Brewster non-stop.

Returning home they moved back to the “Sykes Place” living there until 1962. This is where they lived when both Lowell and Wayne were born. In 1962 Jim’s parents built a new home a quarter mile south of where they lived. When Jim’s parents moved into their new home, Jim, Bonnie and boys moved onto their place. In January 1965, Jim and Bonnie moved to Brewster, purchasing the J.V. Owens home, just south of the City Park. In September 1965 they purchased the Oscar and Grace (Warner) Berry farm and Oscar and Grace purchased Jim and Bonnie’s home in Brewster. Jim and Bonnie lived on the “Berry Place” until fall of 1969 at which time they moved back to the home place. While living on the “Berry Place” they purchased a cow herd and this was the beginning of their cow-calf operation.

Jim and Bonnie were 4-H leaders in Sherman County while Lowell and Wayne were in 4-H.

Jim and Bonnie enjoyed watching their sons grow into adulthood on the farm and attending the school activities the boys participated in such as football, basketball, and track.

After the deaths of Jim’s parents, Jim and Bonnie remodeled his parents’ house in 1985 and this is where they now live.

Jim and Bonnie enjoyed spending the winter months in southern Texas, fishing, golfing and making lots of special friends from many states and Canada. One of Jim’s favorite fishing trips was to Alaska with Bonnie, Marvin and Joan Bishop.

Jim and Bonnie especially enjoyed spending time with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with many friends. They bring special memories.

He is survived by his wife, Bonnie, of the home; sons, Lowell Carpenter and Wayne (Leisha) Carpenter, of Brewster, Kansas. Surviving grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Ashley (Ryan) Stainbrook and children Kora, Mason and Kade, of Paola, KS; Jarrett (Trisha) Carpenter and children Kimber, Cooper, and Colt of Brewster, KS; Amy (Skylor) Flaska and daughter Paisley, of Elizabeth, CO; Seth (Quinnlyn) Carpenter and daughter Macklyn, Brewster, KS. Jim has one sister surviving, Janet Carpenter, Brewster, KS.

Jim is preceded in death by his parent, Fred and Mary Carpenter; brothers, Tom and John Carpenter, infant sister, Harriet Carpenter, and one great-grandchild.

Cremation has been chosen. A memorial visitation will be on Wednesday, Feb. 1, from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, at 10:30 a.m., at Baalmann Mortuary, Colby. Memorials are suggested to the Brewster Heritage Center, Brewster High School (for the FFA program), or St. Thomas Lodge 306, in care of Baalmann Mortuary, PO Box 391, Colby, KS 67701. For information or online condolences, visit www.baalmannmortuary.com.