James "Jim" E. Johanek

James Elden Johanek, Cawker City, 71, passed away at the Osborne County Memorial Hospital on Saturday, September 21, 2024. Jim was the third child born to Betty and Elden Johanek of Esbon, KS on July 1, 1953 at Beloit, Kansas. Jim was raised on a farm south of Esbon and attended Esbon Grade School and High School, graduating with the class of 1971. During his junior year, he was involved in a tragic motor vehicle accident, which left him paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Jim went on to attend Bethany College in Lindsborg, and then received his master's degree in special education from Emporia State University. Following graduation, he taught Special Ed in Dodge City for several years.

Jim loved being around children and was often seen in his golf cart or van with a load of nieces/nephews in tow. He also had a passion for gun collecting and fishing, and was often seen scouring his pastures for unwanted thistles and trees.

Jim had a special love for the sport of coyote hunting (his CB handle was Sitting Bull) with his dad, brother, Ron, and Uncle Ivan, and loved nothing more than bouncing up and down in the pickup seat hanging on for dear life during a frenzied coyote chase, hoping his seat belt would hold him upright as often it did not.

On September 24, 2005, he was united in marriage in Russell, Kansas to the love of his life, Angela Timmons. Jim loved his built-in family and loved his children and grandchildren as his own with each holding a special place in his heart, and enjoyed spending time with all of them.

Left to mourn his passing are his wife, Angie, their children, Taneasha (Eric) Eckstrom, Andrea (Matt) Morris, Zediah Timmons, and grandchildren, Noah, Izayiah, Ezra, Aurora, Stryker, and Jett; mother-in-law and father-in-law, Sylvia and Leslie Swarts, Phillipsburg; brother, Ron (Barb) Johanek, rural Esbon; sisters, Sharon (John) Bergman, Smith Center, Nancy (Dave) Stortz, Glen Elder, and Tracy (Chuck) Decker, Smith Center; as well as a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Elden and Betty Johanek; brother, Steve; sister, Kristina; and infant sisters, Mary and Marie; grandparents, Irma and Orlo VanWey and Edith and Martin Johanek.

A rosary will be recited Wednesday, September 25 at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Esbon at 7 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10 AM on Thursday, September 26 at the Church followed by burial in St. Elizabeth Cemetery. Cremation has taken place. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Jim Johanek Memorial Fund to be determined at a later date.