James Arnold Kaneski was born on August 20, 1934 in Sydney Montana to Raymond and Esther Kaneski. He was the oldest and had two brothers, Ron and David and two sisters, Paula and Rosemary. Two of them are still with us, David & his youngest sister, Rose Casey. Jim passed away peacefully at his home on June 11th, 2022. He was surrounded by his family and favorite pets, Abby and Snuffy.
Jim grew up in Sydney & Glasgow Montana. He went to Carroll College and played football for 2 years before he was drafted to the army in 1955. He took a train with 10 other recruits from his hometown to Butte Montana to be enlisted. When Jim exited the building after enlisting, he saw a poster advertising that the Air Force was looking for cadets that had at least two years of college. He turned around marched upstairs and said he wanted to be an Air Force cadet. The recruiter walked downstairs grabbed his paperwork from the army came back upstairs; stamped it and looked at Jim and said you’re now in the Air Force!
Jim had a distinguished career in the United States Air Force for 21 years. He did his primary pilot training in Hondo Texas in T6 airplane. His first assignment was in Japan flying F 86s, then he was transferred to Greenville Mississippi where he went through the instructor pilot training program. He met his wife, Bonnie at a wedding, where a group of Air Force Pilots hopped in their planes and flew to Kansas City. Jim and Bonnie were married for 62 beautiful years before her passing on January 14, of this year. They had two beautiful children Kelly and Steve. And their lives were never the same.
After a few years being an instructor pilot flying T 37‘s and T 38’s at Williams Air Force Base in Arizona; The Kaneski family was transferred to Japan and Jim flew & fought in the Vietnam war. He was awarded the distinguished flying cross from the US Air Force in 1966. Along with other metals of honor for his bravery and courage; in addition to Multiple rescue missions where he saved the lives of fellow soldiers by Evacuating them out of hotspots.
Jim finally laid down roots when he retired from the Air Force and he bought a home in Elk Grove California. Later Jim and Bonnie moved to Loomis to be next to their son and grandkids. Jim was blessed with three beautiful grandchildren, Mason, Aidan and Scarlet. Whom he loved dearly and gave him joy each and every day of his life.
Jim was an avid golfer, he was a wonderful pianist and played concert piano including Chopin. He loved to bowl, play pinochle and any sort of card or board game. He loved a good glass or bottle of port! He was a kind, patient and gentle man. He was never boastful but he was certainly proud. He was amazing husband, father and grandfather. He loved being part of his family.
His daughter-Kelly would like to leave you all with this poem
“ I thought of you with love today, but that is nothing new. I thought about you yesterday and the days before that too. I think of you in silence, I often speak your name. All I have is your memories and your picture in a frame. Your memory is my keepsake, with which I’ll never part. God has you in his keeping, I have you in my heart!”
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