James W. Sowers

James "Jim" W. Sowers, 75, of Lenexa, Kansas, passed away on Sunday, February 26, 2023. He was born on November 15, 1947 in Ottawa, Kansas to Clare and Marion (Anderson) Sowers.

Jim was raised on a modest farm near Williamsburg, KS with his parents and four brothers. One of his daily chores was milking the Jersey cows. After high school graduation he worked on highway construction until the winter when he attended Allen County Community College. While there he met his future wife, Chari, and graduated with an AA degree. After they were married in June of 1969, he attended Emporia State University and graduated with a bachelor's degree in education. His first teaching job was in Chari's home town of Iola where both of their children were born. He taught junior high social studies there for five years, completed his Master's degree, and then began his professional career as a school administrator in Valley Center, KS as Valley Center Junior High School assistant principal and athletic director. After four years in Valley Center he spent the next 15 years in the Wichita Public Schools, serving as an administrator at two high schools and two middle schools, before finishing his career as Principal at Derby High School, Derby, KS for 10 years. During his professional career he served as president of United School of Administrators in Kansas and was representative of the Secondary School Principal's Association to lobby in Congress for funding for education. He earned his Doctor of Education degree in secondary school administration from Oklahoma State University in 1989.

After he retired in 2005 he got serious about his golf and sold playground equipment for a couple years. He and Chari then had time to enjoy some travel, many times traveling to where Nicci's family lived to see the three oldest grandchildren. As the family grew they moved to the Kansas City area to be closer to Jeffs' family and his two children. He really enjoyed spending the winters in Florida to escape the Midwest cold for the last thirteen years. He approached his life-ending disease with more grace than anyone could have imagined and through it all, he maintained his sense of humor. Although the end came quickly, he suffered for four years with Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinsonism.

Jim is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Chari Sowers; children, Niccole Thorne of Woodinville, WA and Jeffrey (Natalie) Sowers of Council Grove, KS; brothers, Mike Sowers, Merlin (Lynn) Sowers, and Robert (Alice) Sowers; grandchildren, Madeline, Abigail, James, Quinley, and Turner; as well as several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Clare and Marion Sowers, and his brother, Roger Sowers.

A memorial service will be held at 10:00am on Saturday, March 4, 2023, at Church of the Resurrection West. Following the service, the family will receive guests for a reception until 12:00pm. The graveside service will be held at a later date at Highland Cemetery in Iola, KS.

The service will be livestreamed at the scheduled service time. Click here to view the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to the Lewy Body Dementia Association.




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