James Lee Korf

 James Lee “Jim” Korf died in his home on December 2, 2020, at the age of 75. Jim was born in Dodge City, Kansas, on September 10, 1945, to Jim and Virginia (Thomas) Korf.  He graduated high school from Ingalls, Kansas, in 1963, and volunteered to serve in the U.S. Army in December of the same year. He was a paratrooper for the 101st Airborne Division, ultimately serving one tour in Vietnam. After being honorably discharged from the U.S. Army in 1967, Jim worked for Pepsi Cola and then Farmland Industries before going on to run his own businesses.  Jim was a master craftsman with the ability of taking any old piece of wood and making it into something spectacular. He was also an extremely talented photographer who specialized in sunrises and sunsets. In his retired years, Jim and his wife Gail traveled together and shared countless memories with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He taught them about the joy of camping, ATVing and fishing. Jim is survived by his wife Gail; his daughter Kathy (Frank) Vigil of Canon City, CO, and his son Jamie (Sonya) Korf of Caldwell, KS; his 6 grandchildren; his 8 great-grandchildren; step-father Don Melton of Dodge City, KS; his brother Cliff (LaVetta) of Firth, NE, and 3 sisters- Nina (Vaughn) Nash of Cimarron, KS, Ina Smith of Cimarron, KS, Dinah (Rob) Eden of Caney, KS; and his foster brother Ernie (Janice) Bigelow of Gordon, NE; sister-in-law Mary Korf of Canon City, CO. He is preceded in death by his parents, brother Bill, and great-granddaughter Abigail. A memorial service will be held on December 17th at 2pm at the Greenhorn Valley Baptist Church in Rye Colorado.  Family will receive visitation at the home of Gail Korf at 2725 Applewood in Colorado City immediately following the service until around 5pm.  There will also be a memorial for family and friends in Kansas to be determined at a later date.  If you wish to make a donation in Jim’s name, please consider Ingalls alumni at PO Box 99 Ingalls, Kansas 67853 or Sangri DeCristo Hospice at 1207 Pueblo Blvd Way Pueblo, Colorado 81005.

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