James Franklin Kalkwarf, 83, passed peacefully from his earthly life to his eternal home on Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026.
Born March 7, 1942, in Omaha, to Karl and Alice (Sebek) Kalkwarf, he grew up in Crete.A Catawba County, North Carolina, resident for 55 years, Jim was well-respected locally and beyond for his Christian values, volunteerism, and professional integrity, retiring in 1997 as vice president of GDS, Inc.
He took with him treasured memories of his wife of 59 years, Barbara; two daughters, Dawn Jobes, Tampa, Florida, and Rochelle Pell, Rockledge, Florida; two sons, Bradley Kalkwarf, Lincoln, and Mark Kalkwarf (deceased); two sisters, Marilyn Korbel, Wilber, and Anne Ierien, Green Bay, Wisconsin; a brother, Charles Kalkwarf (deceased); and six grandchildren, Zachary and Ryan Kalkwarf, Omaha, Mitchell Kalkwarf, Des Moines, Iowa, Matthew Jobes, Tampa, and Colyn and Rozlyn Pell, Rockledge; as well as many beloved extended family and friends: Jamie, Bryan, Kathy, Alvin, Bill, Sophie, Lenny, Linda, Bernie, Ern, Sandi, Tedd, Carolyn, Steve, Larry, Sue, Jack, Judy, Daryl, Erica, Bruce, Sherri, Drew, Becky, Vicki, Preston, Ray, LuAnn, Dan, Keith, Bobbi, and Wanda.
At Jim’s request, no funeral services will be held. Memorial contributions are suggested to The Tunnel to Towers Foundation (t2t.org).
Arrangements by Jenkins Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Newton, North Carolina.
