Obituaries 8/11/11

Duane M. King

A celebration of the life of Duane M. King, 60, St. John resident for the past 10 years, was July 30 at the Assembly of God Church in St. John, and another service will be at a later date in Indiana where he resided most of his life. Mr. King died July 7, 2001, at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital hospice wing after a seven-week battle with cancer.

Born May 14, 1951, in Gary, Ind., to Duane and Marie King, he was raised in the small town of Hobart, Ind., and graduated from high school there in 1969, and then served in the U.S. Army from 1971 until 1973. After he received his discharge from the Army he was employed in the automobile business for many years. He managed a Firestone Tires store in South Bend, Ind., and was employed as a parts man for Auto Works and Jordan Ford in Mishawaka, Ind. They later came west and he worked at Perfection Tire in Pullman and then moved to St. John to work for St. John Implement. He later went to work for Addus Home Health Care and enjoyed working with patients.

He also enjoyed politics and history, and he was an avid fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team and the Green Bay Packers.

Surviving are his wife, Donna Kraft King. They would have celebrated 25 years of marriage Aug. 2. He is also survived by a son, Michael, serving in the Army in Iraq, a daughter, Christine Martin, New Hampshire; two brothers, Keith and Tom, and four grandchildren. His son was able to visit Mr. King briefly at the VA hospital before his death.

The family suggests memorial donations go to the USO or to the Wounded Warriors.

James Edwin Sturm

James Edwin Sturm, 83, died, July 29, 2011, at Hospice House in Spokane. Internment will be at the Eastern Washington Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Medical Lake, Aug. 17, promptly at 11:15 a.m.

Born May 27, 1928, in Sheridan, Wyo., he attended 11 years of school in Casper, Wyo.

His family then moved to Kennewick during his senior year in high school and he graduated from Kennewick High School in 1946.

He joined the Navy and served two years on the Air Craft Carrier, Tarawa.

After getting out of the Navy, Jim started college at Whitman College in Walla Walla where he met Joanne Crow who later became his wife.

He transferred to Eastern Washington State College and graduated with a degree in education.

He was a teacher at Garfield and then head teacher at Thornton.

He was then elected as Whitman County Superintendent of Schools and served from 1958 to 1962.

He was the youngest county superintendent in the state.

He earned a masters degree in education administration from WSU and then moved to Oakville as Superintendent of schools.

After four years, the family moved to Federal Way where he became an administrator in the Highline School District south of Seattle until he retired.

He took a one year leave of absence in 1977 and he and his wife worked with the Army Education Program in Germany through Big Bend Community College.

During his years in education, he had a high regard for students and sometimes provided a home for troubled students whom he called his “illegitimate kids.” They included exchange students who were unhappy with their home-stays, a college student, potential run-aways and troubled students. The kids stayed with his family for periods ranging from two weeks to four years.

Surviving are his wife of more than 60 years, Joanne (Jo) at their Cheney home; three children, Dr. Sandra Sturm Sheldon and Ehman of Warden, Greg Sturm and Becky of Medical Lake, and Chuck Sturm and Mery Luz of Moses Lake; seven grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren, and a sister Esther Marsh of Laga Vista, Texas.

The family requests memorials be sent to Spokane Hospice House, 367 E 7th Ave., Spokane, 99202.

Paid Memorials available on Pages-8/11/11

Edwin "Eddie" James Thompson

Howard Edward Gylling

Donna Campbell (Denton)