Hawkins Sr., James P. 1930-2025 Kansas City, Kan.
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – James Patrick Hawkins Sr., 94, passed away surrounded by family on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.
James was born on Aug. 24, 1930, in Sioux City, Iowa, to John Edward and Mary Celestine Hawkins. James graduated from Trinity High School in Sioux City and then served in the United States Army from 1948-1950, mainly being stationed in Hawaii.
James began working in the insurance industry in 1959. He then met Barbara Ann Lidtke while working in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, selling insurance door to door. It was a fateful knock on her door, and they were joined in marriage on July 2, 1960, in Slayton, Minnesota, at her parent’s home. His career had them living in Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Iowa, and Green Bay, Wisconsin, before being transferred to Kansas City, Kansas, in 1969.
In 1972 James purchased a Snelling and Snelling Staffing Service in St. Joseph. The company was ultimately rebranded as IMKO and for the next 35 years his staffing business expanded throughout the Midwest and then other locations across the country. IMKO grew to become one of the larger and more successful independent staffing services in the region. James retired in 2008, leaving the business in the hands of his two sons and key employees.
Following retirement, James and Barbara spent the fall and winter months in their beloved second home in Indio, California. One of their favorite pastimes together was antiquing, shopping at estate sales and visiting casinos, with Las Vegas being their favorite destination. James also enjoyed stamp collecting, attending NASCAR races at Kansas Speedway and going to T-Bones Baseball games at Legends Field. After Barbara’s passing in 2018, he kept up with his vibrant lifestyle while also exploring and entering new business opportunities. In his later years, James loved caring for his cherished cats and writing poetry while sitting on his porch overlooking his pond at the dream home that he and Barbara built in 2013.
James was preceded in death by his wife of 57 years, Barbara; his parents; and his siblings, Mary Margaret Beeson, Lois Dougherty, John Hawkins and Delores Thoma.
James will be dearly missed by his sons, Keith Hawkins and his wife Kim, their children Hilary Hawkins and Tyler Hawkins, James Patrick Hawkins Jr. and his wife Cindy, and their children James Hawkins III and Adam Hawkins. James is also survived by Renee Perez and her husband Adrian, and their children Giovanny, Abraham, Angelica, and Jayden.
Many thanks from the family to all his caregivers for their dedication and compassion over the past several months.
James will be remembered fondly for his kindness, warmth, generosity and his great sense of humor.
Visitation will be held at 9:30 a.m. with the Funeral Mass following at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, July 3, at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 1086 N 94th St, Kansas City, Kansas. Committal Services immediately following at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, 12800 Parallel Parkway, Kansas City, Kansas.
James was a lifelong supporter of Boys Town Village in Nebraska. In Lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in his name to this organization by visiting boystown.org. As published in the St. Joseph News-Press.
