James "Jim" R. Unruh, 71, passed into heaven on Saturday (Feb. 27, 2016) in the presence of his family.
Jim was born in Newton on Dec. 2, 1944. He attended Gordon Grade School in Goessel, Berean Academy in Elbing and Hesston High School in Hesston. He earned his BA in Business Administration from Wichita State University and a MA in Economics, also from Wichita State University. His career was with Hesston Corporation in Hesston; Pizza Hut Corporation in Wichita; Tricon Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky; and YUM Brands Inc. also in Louisville, Kentucky. Jim was a member of Aldersgate United Methodist Church, Wichita; Wichita State Alumni Association; and Corvette Museum, Bowling Green, Kentucky. He was very involved in his churches and near to his heart was the after school tutoring program in Louisville, Kentucky.
Jim leaves his wife, Karen, of the home; sons Tom (Rhonda) Unruh of Newton, Ted (Lora) Unruh of Littleton, Colorado; sister Anna Beth (Howard) Birky of Goessel; four grandsons, Nathan Unruh, Dalton Carey, Cooper Swinson and Nash Swinson; nieces and nephews; an uncle; and many cousins. Jim was proceeded in death by his parents, John and Wilma (Schmidt) Unruh; and brother, John Robert Unruh.
Viewing/visitation will be from 6 p.m.. to 8 p.m., Tuesday, March 1, 2016, at Downing and Lahey Mortuary West in Wichita. Funeral Service will be at 11 a.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at Aldersgate United Methodist Church. Graveside Service will be at 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 2, 2016, at Alexanderwohl Mennonite Church Cemetery, Goessel. Memorials may be made to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), c/o Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 7901 W. 21st St. N, Wichita, KS 67205.
