James Haworth Kindall was the son of Beulah Annette Kindall ( a petite soprano from Ottawa, Kansas who was a working professional in California all her life) and James Vernon Kindall (a chemist and church organist from Canon City Colorado, who aided in the invention of plastics that kept the first unmanned space craft from burning up). Jim was born in Toledo, Ohio and was brother to Candy Hammond, an older sister.
When Jim was in the fifth grade, his family moved to California (so his dad could work on plastics at NASA). The ocean Jim found there influenced his lifetime love of water. As a teenager he and his friends would surf and spend summer evenings sleeping on the sand by a campfire, one of his favorite memories. Living first in San Diego, and later in Riverside Jim went to Polytech High School and was a member of the large ensemble and Madrigal singing groups. His vocal instructor there developed Jim’s voice and later influenced the repertoire Jim’s own choirs would sing. Their groups sang at special events all over California and recorded two albums in the 60’s. (Most people would be able to find Jim on the album cover, even without his beard which was part of his entire adult countenance).
After high school, Jim attended several universities starting at San Francisco State. (Yes, he was there during the “Summer of Love”, where they burned his dorm) While there Jim worked sacking groceries, taking great pride in his work, and spent a lot of time at China Beach. He eventually graduated from Ottawa University in Kansas with a Bachelor’s in Music Education. His Grampsy, B. Smith Haworth (Annette’s father) was a professor at Ottawa. Believe it or not, Jim began college intending to be a civil engineer…but eventually his love of music took over and he became a music educator.
While getting his degree, Jim took short interludes and lived in Fairplay, Colorado where he ran a rescue tow truck, and New Orleans where he pumped gas and eventually managed Highway Oil. Lots of adventures and people in his life along the way, but eventually he ended up teaching vocal music at Chanute High School in Chanute, Kansas. You can imagine this long haired wild man riding to work on his motorcycle teaching his students to sing all the Beatles songs as well as the most difficult madrigals you can imagine! (Diaphragmatic breathing!!)
After a couple of years Jim continued his own education and received his Masters Degree from Pittsburg State University. Not finding a job when he graduated, he worked as a hired man for a local farmer. (Which eventually led this vegetarian to raising his own pigs to supplement his income…a whole other story!!)
After a year Jim purchased a “farm” of 4 ½ acres in Parsons, Kansas where he moved 6 sows, 4 ducks, a goat, and 2 dogs to begin his long and highly successful career teaching vocal music at Parsons Middle School and Parsons High School. The program began small, but soon lots of kids wanted to enroll in “crazy Mr. Kindall’s” vocal music classes. Jim found himself teaching as many as 150 students a day the joy of singing. He played the piano 8 hours and then went home to raise a huge garden, feed his pigs, make some wine, cook a huge meal, or take his beloved “Bob the Boat” to Big Hill Lake. (Remember his love of water—Jim was a ‘hot dog’ slalom skier, and he would tell you he owned a boat since he was 18). His vocal groups brought home many trophies from State music along with 1st place awards from national festivals. His soloists that qualified for state sang beautiful solos and found their individual voices thanks to Mr. Kindall’s. ALL students found a safe, secure loving environment in which to learn not only how to breathe correctly and hit the right pitch, but to treat each other with kindness and compassion. Jim would tell you he educated the whole human being – body, mind, and soul, and taught them to treat everyone with kindness and respect for every living and non-living thing. His students credit Jim with a lifetime of influence and often quote him …”Don’t Busticate the Magic”, “Bless your slickety heels”, “5 words – It Ain’t Gonna Worry Me’ and the ever famous…”That’s what my mother said----right before she died”,
During these years Jim was also busy being the world’s greatest step-dad (dad) to Chris Keilitz and Isaac Brewer. He loved these boys and raised them as his own, making them do chores, be responsible, but also taking them on great adventures. Chris will never forget learning to drive in Jim’s 1953 black Chevy truck, a manual 3 shift on the column with about 13 inches of play in the steering! Other lessons included eating healthy, cutting wood and of course how to back up a gravity wagon with pig feed! As any good parent, he also made sure he embarrassed them –recalling the time Jim made Isaac ride to the middle school on his old blue Ford tractor because the shop guy was going to fix it for Jim! He drove it down main with Isaac on the back, right in front of all the students hanging out…can’t you just picture it ?!!!! Isaac was mortified to say the least—but Jim thought it was just practical!! Chris’s wife Danise, their two children Nick and Jessica, and Isaac’s wife Penny learned the strong love of Jimbo and all his wonderful talents when they joined the family.
Later in life, Jim married his soul mate Ruth (Spielbusch) Kindall. Jim often called Ruth his “19th wife and Ruth would always reply when that it took him 18 to get it right!! They married on November 25th, 2000 in Houston, Texas (another story). As soulmates who worked together, co-directed musicals together, gardened together, traveled together everyone who knew them could see the love they had for each other. Memorable trips with students include trips to Winter Park Music Festival, traveling to sing at Ground Zero as the single group selected from Kansas, and Washington DC. Ruth and Jim also traveled the country together, most recently to the East coast to visit all three kids and take in a Broadway show.
When it was opening night for one of their musicals, Jim beamed with pride as Ruth gave the welcoming remarks to the audience, and Ruth sat proudly watching her husband accompany a 2 ½ hour show on the keyboards. At curtain call of the last show when their students called them up to the stage to show their gratitude—Jim and Ruth’s partnership, love for life, and love for each other was clear for the world to see. Proud of the contributions they made in the lives of their students together, they would be rich in memories for years to come. Jim retired from teaching after 35 glorious years.
Marriage to Ruth brought another opportunity for “step-dad” love. Emily (Young) Kasprzak became Jim’s 3rd child, and true to form, he taught her many things…including how to garden, weed a strawberry bed, pick corn (another story), drive (yes—Chris – more driving stories), ski, and love life. Emily’s marriage to Martin Kasprzak gave Jim another son to love. The birth of Ruth and Jim’s grandchild, bubbly Miss Lucy Kasprzak, gave Jim a new name: “Papa”. Jim held Lucy the day she was born (his first time holding a newborn) and asked “when do they open their eyes?” to which Ruth replied “Jim! She’s not a puppy!” It was Jim’s great joy to watch Lucy grow. Lucy loved water (making her Papa extremely happy) and they spent tons of time swimming together in Papa’s pool. Many other adventures were shared and Jim was beyond thrilled when Lucy joined the Clayton Carolina’s Children’s Choir being their youngest member at the age of 6!!
The move to Clinton in 2015 provided opportunities for Jim to continue making music by being the choir director/ organist/ pianist for 5 years at Clinton Christian Church. New friendships were made and the joy of Jim’s music was shared. True to form, Jim and Ruth decided Clinton needed musical theater, so they directed 4 shows for Heartland Community Theater (most performances being sold out!!). Jim also funded and organized two Summerfests in Artesian Park because he wanted music festivals that were free for everyone. Their life together in Clinton provided new experiences, and Jim built new memories for many that will last a lifetime.
Jim may be not present in his Earth body (as one of his students shared) and we shall miss his energy and heart terribly, but there is another warrior on the other side, and what a spirit guide he will be!! He’s probably up there somewhere--- teaching them all to sing!!!! Meanwhile, here on earth, as we hear a certain song, or raise our own voices….we will, each in our own way, pay tribute to Jimbo. Thank you, James Haworth Kindall—for living such a great life. It was a good run!!
A Celebration of Life will be at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, March 2, 2024 at the Clinton Christian Church. The family will receive friends from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m., just prior to the service. The family suggests memorial contributions to the Parsons Educational Foundation: in memory of Jim Kindall, and these donations may be left in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be left online at www.bradleyhadley.com.
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