James Edward "Jim" Karp
Marriages
Bonnie
Obituaries
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel page 5A Obituary - April 3, 2018
James Edward Karp July 14, 1932 - March 30, 2018
James Edward Karp, 85, of Grand Junction, Colorado passed away on Good Friday, March 30, 2018. Jim was born in Fruita, Colorado on July 14, 1932, to Lawrence and Mary (Serve) Karp. Jim grew up on the family farm during the Great Depression, where he learned the German work ethic, to take initiative, and the valuable skill of working on machinery, which led to a very successful career. Jim began his drilling career in 1951 working for Minerals Engineering. In 1952, he met the love of his life, Bonnie. They were married in 1953. They were blessed with three children, Pamela in 1954, Kenneth in 1955, a new Ford in 1956, and Teresa in 1957. The first ten years of their marriage, Jim worked for Sprague and Henwood in several states, including Alaska where the young drillers’ idea of fun was sliding down the glaciers on snow shovels. In 1962, Jim accepted the position of field supervisor with Boyles Brothers Drilling Company in La Serena, Chile. The family returned to the U.S. in 1965. Next, Jim moved his family back to Chile, where he worked for Anaconda’s largest open pit copper mine in the world in Chuquicamata. Jim and his family enjoyed their time in Chile exploring and enjoying the beauty of the Chilean countryside, including trips in the Andes that took them past the telescope observatories at 16,000 feet and continuing on to nearly 19,000 feet. They enjoyed fishing trips in the Andes and swimming and playing on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. After retuning to the U.S. in 1968, at the age of 36, he attained the position as Director of Ground Operations working for Parsons Corporation’s "Operation Hard Rock" in New Delhi, India. The family had many adventures in India; visiting the Taj Mahal, hiking to glaciers in the Himalayas, and Jim and Ken tiger hunting on elephants in Jim Corbett National Park. Jim was especially proud of his 1966 maroon Mustang, one of the few in India. After returning to Grand Junction in 1970, Jim began an entrepreneurial career starting new businesses. This included Colorado West Tire Company, Kleen Kut Concrete and Sawing, and BJ Service Commercial Building Rentals. Jim retired at 50, to enjoy snowmobiling and fishing at his cabin on the Grand Mesa, elk hunting with his friends, and bird hunting with his dog, Duncan. His favorite hobby was to restore old cars. He was a 20 year member and past president of the Wheels West Car Club. His first car was a 1919 Model T that Jim and Bonnie toured France in. That car began his love of restoring old cars. He restored many cars over the years including two Model T’s, two Model A’s, and a 1925 Buick roadster. On his last day on earth, he asked his son, Ken, to make sure to pick up the hood for his 1929 Ford roadster that he was building in "secret" for Bonnie. Jim was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and grandfather. Thank you Dad for the wonderful times we had with you. You will be greatly missed. We love you. He is survived by his loving wife of 64 years, Bonnie; daughter, Pam (Tom) Lowrey; son, Ken (Kathy) Karp; daughter, Teresa (Don) Fulmer; seven grandchildren; six greatgrandchildren, and siblings, Laurence Karp of Grand Junction, and RoseAnn McCormick of UT. A celebration of life Vigil will be held at Immaculate Heart of Mary (IHM) Catholic Church on Thursday, April 5, at 7:00 p.m. The memorial service will take place at IHM on Friday, April 6, at 10:30 a.m.
Grand Junction Daily Sentinel4 page 4A Death Notice - April 2, 2018
James Edward Karp, 85, Grand Junction, died March 30, 2018, at Community Hospital. Services will take place at 10:30 a.m. Friday at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. Rosary will be said at 7 p.m. Thursday at the church. He was the owner and operator of BJ Service. Survivors include his wife, Bonnie; one son, Kenneth E. of Grand Junction; two daughters, Teresa L. Fulmer of Grand Junction and Pamela J. Lowrey of Bend, Oregon; one brother, Laurence of Grand Junction; one sister, Rose Ann McCormick of Sandy, Utah; seven grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions to Holy Family Catholic School, 786 26 1/2 Road, Grand Junction 81506.
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