"Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. We are so sorry for your loss. (Funkey Law Offices, Aurora, IL)"
In loving memory of
James Gordon Kickertz
May 3, 1952 - September 7, 2013
Jim Kickertz died Saturday September 7 at his home in Kyle Texas. He was 61 years old.James Gordon Kickertz, the son of Fred Otto Kickertz and Myrtle Ruth Kickertz, was born May 3, 1952 in Glenwood Minnesota. Jim grew up in Glenwood and graduated from Glenwood High School in 1970. He moved to Austin Texas in 1971 and began his career as a meat cutter for Safeway, Inc. In 1984, Jim began his long time relationship with Whole Foods, first as a meat cutter, then a meat and seafood consultant. At the same time, to follow his own personal woodworking dream, Jim began building birdhouses and patio decks in his garage. One day, after constructing a college-style bookcase, Jim was inspired to pursue a new career as a woodworker. Jims love of woodworking starting as a hobby progressed to setting up his business, K Woodworks, in his garage in 1987. When Whole Foods needed some store fixtures, Jim started building their display cases. As Jim put it, just as Whole Foods was erupting, he was able to erupt with them. Jims entrepreneurial passion, combined with the rise of Whole Foods, landed him various side project jobs fabricating custom millwork fixtures for stores both locally in Texas and across the country. Outgrowing Jims garage, K moved to its own building in Kyle Texas and then, in 2010, to a new building in Uhland, TX, designed by Jim. Over 27 years, Jim built K Woodworks into a very successful business which, just this summer, celebrated the opening of the expanded building in Uhland. Jim was a very active member of First Baptist Church of Kyle. A wonderful family man, he always tried to make it to family gatherings, no matter how far away and was always ready to help and share his talents and love. Jim was a great driver who loved speed, whether it was his speed boat on Lake Travis or his car on the highways. Jim loved driving, playing cards, a good joke and just plain fun. Jim was beloved by all of his large extended family, and truly the light of his life was his daughter Kayle. We will all miss this big bear of a man with such a gentle spirit. He is survived by his daughter Kayle Dawn Kickertz of Kyle,TX, stepmother Erma Kickertz of Glenwood, MN, brother Fred E. (Betty) Kickertz of Plymouth, MN, sister Virginia Kickertz of San Pedro, CA, sister Betty Jean (Lee) Recknor of Rochester, MN, brother Allan (Kathy) Kickertz of Elburn, IL, sister Genevieve Murtaugh of Richmond VA, stepbrother Gary (Lori) Overstead of Anchorage, AK, stepsisters Sharon Robards of Starbuck, MN, Sandy (Richard) Larson of Starbuck, MN and Julie Erickson of Glenwood, MN, Aunts Ruth Hemm of Fargo, ND and Ila Vey Kickertz of Chaffee, ND, many nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.A memorial service celebrating his life will be held on Thursday, September 12, 2013 at 7:00pm at the First Baptist Church of Kyle.Arrangements by Harrell Funeral Home, Kyle. 512-268-8200
Tributes
"Our Prayers are with you"
"Jim you was a wonderful man.my family and I feel so honored to have known you and spent time with you.you treated our daughter like your own. She always had fun and enjoyed every moment that she spent with you and Kaylee. Our heart is broken.but we know your in a better place.I pray that Kaylee will always know what kind of man you were and alwaysremember the fun times.until we meet again god bless you and keep his arms wrapped around your precious daughter and give her the wonderful future you would have always wanted her to have god bless you always. Beverly/Jas/ Brittany Kelley.."
"Coach and I will miss seeing gentle jims smile every week. Coach and he shared the same birth date and had great times together. He was truly a MAN OF GOD and loved his little girl dearly. We will see hm again in heaven so this is just so long till next tme."
"To all of those family and friends that will miss Jim and his kind spirit and smile ~ whether at home, work or in a church service ~ this man was truly a testimony to God's honor. My mind has flashed back often the past few days of the memories of the short time that I have known Jim. One treasured memory will always be to see him in my mind in Heaven's Gates & Hell's Flames performance where he was one of the angels guarding the steps up to Heaven ~ no one would have dared to try and go past Big Jim to get there when his sword was drawn to protect those steps! Now to think that he has beat the rest of us there! May God bring the needed comfort to all of the many hearts that will missing this gentle giant of a man at the point of each need! Remember that God is the God of all comfort!"
"Jim, as the song says, I can only imagine. I know it is beautiful and perfect where you are in the presence of our Father. However, it won't seem the same without your presence here with us at FBCK. We'll see you over yonder."