James William Supica, Sr.

James William "Jim" Supica, Sr., (age 93), of Olathe, Kansas passed away April 23, 2021 at Lakeview Care Center.

The family will receive guests for a visitation from 9:00-9:30am on Friday, April 30, 2021, at College Church of the Nazarene – Garrett Chapel in Olathe, the funeral service, conducted by Pastor Daniel Vanderpool, will immediately follow at 9:30am. A private graveside service will take place at Highland Park Cemetery in Kansas City, Kansas. The family respectfully requests any memorial gifts be made to the Lakeview Village Foundation.

Jim Supica was born July 24th, 1927 in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Joseph and Katie Supica. Jim's Father died when he was 22 months old and his Mother Katie raised their five children in Kansas City, Kansas during the Great Depression. Jim attended Irving & Lowell Grade Schools then Wyandotte High School graduating in May of 1945. At that time Jim joined the United States Coast Guard Reserves for the duration of the war, plus 6 months, serving on the Coast Guard Cutter USS Mohawk Air Sea-Rescue in the North Atlantic. Following an Honorable Discharge, he attended the old KCK Junior College 1946-1947 at 9th and State Ave. along with his future wife Delcie Ann Barton.

Due to the family's economic condition Jim's employment began in 1941 while in the 8th Grade with two Kansas City, Kansan paper routes. He was continuously employed during evenings after school and summer months at local Drugstores, Coal Yards, Casket Factory, The K C KS Medical Depot and began his career in Heavy-Highway Construction in 1944 employed by the Geo. Bennett Construction at their Equipment Overhaul Shop located at 16thand Central Avenue as a Mechanic Helper and Truck Driver.

Following his service in the US Coast Guard he returned to work for Geo. Bennett Construction as a Heavy Equipment operator, Timekeeper, Grading Foreman, Project Superintendent and promoted to General Superintendent of Mr. Bennett's Construction operations from 1951 to 1956.

In 1957 Jim and Harold Reno organized the Reno Grading Company with Jim as Vice President and minority shareholder. In 1959 Reno Grading was incorporated into the re-organized Reno Construction Co. Inc. with Jim continuing as a Vice President and 15% minority shareholder.

In 1970 he sold his interest in Reno Construction to his partners and started United Construction Co. as an "Open Shop" Heavy-Highway Construction Contracting firm building projects in Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma.

He was most active in the Construction Contracting Trade Associations as a Contractor Member of the AGC of Missouri and Kansas Contractors Association and one of the 3 founders of the Heart of America Chapter of the Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC).

In 1978 he was the first "Open Shop" Contractor to be elected President of the AGC of Missouri and in 1984 elected President of the Kansas Contractors' Association. Jim became active in the National Associated General Contractors of America (AGC) in 1973 as a member of their Crime Prevention and Open Shop Committees.

He served as the National Committee Chairman of AGC's; Crime Prevention, Infrastructure Coordinating, Mississippi Valley/AASHTO, Pension, Budget, Finance, Legislative & Political Action, the National Officers Nominating Committees and a Life Member of AGC's national Board of Directors.

He was elected by his fellow Contractor Members to serve in 1985 as the National Highway Division Chairman, 1986 National Vice-President and 1987 Senior Vice-President and in 1988 National President of the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC).

In 1989-1991 Jim was appointed National Chairman of AGC's Legislative and PAC Committee and honored to have testified before seventeen Congressional Committees of the U.S. Senate and the US House of Representatives representing the Construction Industries on existing and pending national Legislation.

In 1991 United Construction Company completed all their outstanding Construction contracts permitting Jim to retire from his active Construction career and to enjoy full time the love-of-his-life, his wife Delcie Ann (Barton) Supica who he had married in 1948 and preceded him in death in 2004.

They were blessed with fifty-six faithful years of marriage and the joy of two loyal sons, Jim Jr. and Mark who were Jim's equal partners in 1991 when United Construction Company closed.

These past years of Jim's life has been devoted to writing "Our Journey", the life story of Jim and Delcie Ann Supica, both raised during the Depression years, falling in love, raising their family and living the American dream available to all in America who will work hard, obey the rules and live a Christian life, may our God Bless America.

Survivors include son James W. Supica, Jr. and his wife Eve in Olathe and Son Mark and his wife Karen in Olathe, Jim Sr. had 5 Grand Children; Jamie, Ruth Ann, David, John and Daniel who have given Jim Senior 9 Great-Grand Children; Anne Elliot, Claire, Alice, Ellie, Betty, Margaret, Oscar, Charles and Edie.

Jim enjoyed his twilight years as a residence of Lakeview Village in Lenexa, Kansas.






To leave a message of condolence for Jim's family or to share a special memory of Jim, please visit the guestbook below.