Walk with God, you will be missed.

You could tell from his writing's that Jim was a great and humble man, but until you see all the accomplishments listed in an obituary, you just have no idea. He was brilliant and obviously a very wealthy man, but his unpretentiousness nature never allowed that to influence how he related to others. By today's standards 72 was way to young. Especially for someone like Jim, who contributed so much to society.

I'm shocked.

From his last comments,just two months ago, Jim sounded like he still got something left, and he's all out there to learn new things.

But I'm sure he's called as another fine student on the right hand of the Lord's academy.

Neil,

To say that I am shocked doesn't really do justice to how I feel right now. I did NOT know about this. I haven't had a chance to visit the site much in the past 2 months due to work, but I never detected anything was wrong with Jim.

I always looked for his comments, and in fact had developed a pretty extensive email correspondence with him outside of this site.

I'm just numb. Thanks for posting the obit, Neil.

We're going to miss him, for sure. Damn, I really wish I could've gotten together with him a couple months ago when he was up in Chi-town. Damn.

Rest well Jim, I hope to see you again.

First, Neil....excellent post.

I just wanted to repeat what I shared about Jim for anyone that might have missed it.

Jim, like all others here, had no idea who Joe S from San Diego was other than a Cubs fan posting on the site.

Wih the help of Neil, I was able to bring my personal situation to light amongst our group. That situation involved a rather lengthy custofy battle for my 6 year old daughter Abby. One of the hurdles put before me was a requirement by the judge to spend a week last December in Kansas with my daughter prior to a custody change taking place. This was going to be a financial hurdle I wasnt sure I could overcome. I reached for help anywhere and everywhere I could. One of the first people from the CCO who was able to come forward in these difficult economic times we faced was Jim.

Jim not only offered his financial help, but he worked to assist me with employment and always stayed in touch especially after I was awarded custody of Abby in March. Jim checked in regularly to see how we were doing. During one conversation this summer we discussed the fact I had to essentially buy Abby a whole knew wardrobe for school and slowly work towards buying toys for her because her grandparents didnt send any of her toys back with her. Jim asked about Abby having a bike and then informed me to go online and pick out a bike and let him know which one Abby selected. Within days we received a check to purchase the bike. He didnt have to do this, especially after he already offered his assistance months earlier. But this man had a heart like no other. His only condition for the help was to send some pictured of Abby enjoying her new bike.

Abby drew Jim and his wife Joyce a photo and a thank you card. We included some photos of Abby on her bike. He then sent her a wonderful note through my email.

Jim taught me so much about caring for other people and helping others. I do want to comment that there were others here on the CCO who helped me during my quest to bring my daughter home, and there were others who would have if they were in the position to do so. I do not want to seem like I am leaving anyone out and focusing on Jim. Frankly, I never thanked Jim or anyone else by posting on the CCO because I felt it was a more appropriate to share my thanks through private communication. I just felt that to really show what kind of man Jim was I needed to share the story with all of you.

I am deeply saddened that I will never have the opportunity to meet Jim. I had hoped that perhaps during a spring training trip we might be able to meet. I do know that the next trip I make, I want to go to a Rockies game and get the autograph of one Seth Smith. I will cherish that autograph more than any other I possess because I know how much of a fan Jim was of his "adopted son".

Jim's posts here were always a pleasure to read. Jim had quite the business background and was quite the baseball historian. I wish I could have met Jim and just sat and listened to his stories and absorbed just a fraction of his life knowledge.

I hope that Jim is up there with Harry enjoying a cold one while laughing at Harry saying Seth Smith spelled backwards is Htes Htims.

Jim K you were an amazing man, a great Cubs fan, and most of all a classy and caring person. I only hope that in my days that remain on this earth I can be a fraction of the man that you were. Though our only communication was over the computer, I am honored to have known you. Rest In Peace Jim. You will be missed.

I know there has been some trouble with the link for the obituary. Here is a link for the mortuary which appears to have the obituary listed as well. You may also sign the guestbook there as well.

http://www.leppertmortuary.com/services.aspx?ID=1066

Joe,
It really is quite a story you have with Jim, one worth remembering for all time...by all of us.
You were quite right in your intitial
judgement to keep your relationship private...between yourself and JimK...AND akso to share the story with us at this time. I am very touched and really grateful you did share the story.

Thankyou also for posting an alternate
site for the obit...the one I had from the newspaper is still not working...
and it has been frustrating to me after finding it...with no problem early this am...that it has not worked since.

I have no special stories of Jim...just the daily banter we shared...but that was enough to know he was a prince among
princes...he lived a life I still could only aspire to...to be a better person.

In the final analysis, the most important
scorecard is how many people we touched in a positive way...somehow, I think Jim
won his own World Series by that measure.

Joe perhaps one day you might meet his son or Joyce...as he called her...
"the trophy wife".
Peace.

Neil...fantastic job on "Tip of the Cap"
JimK will be sorely missed...but never forgotten.

Very upsetting news. JimK and his insightful posts will be dearly missed ...

Well done Neil.

JimK clearly touched many and will never be forgotten.

The future is no place to place your better days.

i do not post much, but like i have said in the past, i read the site twice a day EVERYday. the people on this site are like a small community. you read everyones' post and you kind of get to know them without ever meeting them. JimK seemed like a heck of a guy and my prayers go out to his love ones.

DAMN!!! That's about all I can say. I'm not what you would consider one of the "regulars" here, but when here, I always looked forward to reading JimK's comments. And always chuckled when he mentioned his "trophy wife". Imagine my surprise when I read the obit and it said he'd been married for 50 years. I chuckled even more, because that was the point when I got it.

BTW, he still owes me a beer, so I guess I have to wait till I join him to collect.

RIP JimK.

Jim K, may you rest peacefully. Thank you for being a small part of my life, reading you comments and loving the GREATEST TEAM on Earth like me!

Go Cubs Go!

I never had the pleasure of meeting JimK personally, but through reading his post and stories, you just knew he was a great and caring man. I will truly miss reading his post.
JimK you will dearly be missed, rest in peace.
I will send my prayers to his family.

Rest in peace, JimK. You will be missed.

What a guy! Jim and Joyce visited Mesa
every year for Cub Spring Training, and
we would meet for dinner. We thought we'd
have him forever. His outlook on life and
the people he touched were truly amazing.
May he rest in peace.

I've just read this awful news, I loved reading his posts, so knowledgeable with a wicked sense of humor, rest in peace Jim.