James Joseph Kolanczyk

Born May 1, 1939 to Charles & Frances Kolanczyk in Superior, Wisconsin. After graduating from Duluth Central High School in Duluth, Minnesota in 1957 James went to work for the First American Bank in Duluth, MN. First American was a member of Northwest Bank Corporation (later known as Norwest Bank Corporation which is now Wells Fargo) as a bank teller.

In the early 1960’s, he transferred to the corporation’s data processing subsidiary NCS (Northwest Computer Services later known as Norwest Information Services) as a computer programmer. He later became a computer analysist, team manager and group director. He worked for the bank corporation for over 20 years.

In June of 1968 he met Betty Lou Larson when she joined the IT project on which Jim was assigned. They were later married on August 1, 1977 and continued to both work for Norwest.

In 1985 Jim and Betty left Norwest and Minnesota and moved to Texas where Jim worked for Ebby Holiday Realtors and Apartment Finders.

In 1996 they moved to Atlanta, Georgia and then to San Jose, California in 1998 (Jim loved California) and back to Texas in 2001. Jim loved living in the south after growing up and living in Wisconsin and Minnesota - he disliked the cold and snow.

As a young boy, his father would take him to watch the elephants put up the circus tents when the circus came to town. Jim’s favorite animals (outside of their dogs) were elephants. He had a huge collection of elephant figurines. He loved the circus – we went to the Ringling Brothers & Barnum & Baily Greatest Show on Earth every time it came to where we were living. But his best time was when he was able to go on two African Safaris in 2013 and 2017 to Tanzania and see elephants every day in their natural habitat.

Another love of Jim’s was his cars – he kept a picture of all the cars he had in a separate plastic case – including his very first car. Jim and Betty enjoyed cruising – they took they first cruise in 1980 but his favorite cruise was to Cuba in 2018 where he was able to again ride in some of his favorite cars.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Frances Kolanczyk, brother Charles Kolanczyk, sisters Leona Marcuk and Kay Clark, niece Franceskaye Graveling and nephew Bob Marcuk. He is survived by his wife, Betty, sisters-in-law Gertrude Kolanczyk, Delores Larson, Pamela (Don) Lawrence and Paulette (Bruce) Bowersox, niece Susan Engelking and nephews Mike Kolanczyk, Rick Kolanczyk, Gerald Kolanczyk, Randy Kolanczyk, Claude Clark, Tim Larson, Morris Duffy, John Duffy, Miles Duffy, 11 great nephews and nieces and two great great nieces.

Jim was a special person. He has friends that go back over 50 years – once a friend you were a friend forever. He loved his family, meeting people and teasing those he loved. We have many Jim stories that will bring us many fond memories. He will be so missed and his smile.

A Celebration of Life Service to be held at Grace Lutheran Church, August 31, 2024 at 1:30 pm. Refreshments to follow at Stonebriar Funeral Home, 10375 Preston Road, Frisco, TX at 3:00 pm

The family has asked that in lieu of flowers a donation be made to Grace Lutheran Church, 1200 East Hebron Parkway, Carrollton, TX 7501 or Victoria Falls Wildlife Trust, PO Box 159, 1021 Holland Rd Ext, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe