James Earl Schoof

James Earl "Jim" Schoof, 88 of Topeka, passed away Friday, June 22, 2018.

Jim was born September 30, 1929 at Four Mile outside of Council Grove, Kansas to the late Veron Earl Schoof and Gladys (Van Meter) Schoof.

All three of his siblings have preceded him in death: William (Bill) Schoof, Wisconsin; Richard (Dick) Schoof, Oregon; and sister Lokeil (Susy) Hensley, California.

He was a 1947 graduate of Council Grove High School. Jim received his B.S. degree in Agricultural Engineering from Kansas State University, graduating in 1951. He was also commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the United States Army through his participation in the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Kansas State. Jim served 2 years active duty in the Army Signal Corp, and was stationed in Japan during the Korean War. After his service, he returned to south west Kansas and became the top salesman in his agricultural company. He married Marilyn J. Alexander of Garden City, Kansas, in November 1954. They had a son Victor, and a daughter Val.

Jim and his family moved to Portland, Oregon where he was a professor at Oregon State University, while he earned his Master's degree in Agricultural Engineering. In the late 1960's, he ran an irrigation business in Ulysses, Kansas, relocating in 1971 to Council Grove to serve as the Morris County Engineer.

Jim worked for the United Nations as an Agricultural Engineer. As an engineer with USAID, he worked in under-developed countries to improve irrigation, dams, wells, roads, etc. He lived in various countries: Nepal, Vietnam, Libya, Egypt, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

On January 3, 1975, he married Carol (Shields) Evans at Beecher Bible and Rifle Church in Wabaunsee, Kansas. She and her four children survive him. Jim and Carol were world travelers and had the opportunity to live in several countries. They resided briefly in Wichita and Topeka, while he was employed with the State of Kansas as an Agricultural Engineer before returning overseas for another adventurous work assignment. Upon his return to the States, Jim and Carol retired to San Antonio, Texas. For the last three years, they have resided in Topeka, Kansas.

Survivors include his wife Carol, Topeka; a son Fritz Springmeier (Vic) and daughter Val Ves, both of Holcomb, KS; step-children: Stephanie Evans (George) Gaissert, S. Carolina, Jeffrey Omer Evans, Washington, Jana Evans (Craig) Behlen, Topeka, and Kevin Lawrence Evans, Oklahoma; five grandsons, Omar Sampsel, Jed Sampsel, James E. Schoof, Erick Sinclair and Joshua Springmeier; a great-grandson, Phillip James Schoof; 9 step-grandchildren, Kevin Gaissert, Blythe Gaissert Levitt, Brooks Gaissert, Jeff Evans, Heather Evans Hood, Carrie Evans Powers, Nathan Evans, Ashley Behlen, and Blake Behlen; and 11 step-great-grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life service will be held 10 a.m., Saturday, July 21, 2018 at the Council Grove Christian Church in Council Grove.

Inurnment will be at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 19, 2021 at the Lewis Cemetery, Ramona, Kansas.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or the Alzheimer's Association, 3625 SW 29th St. Suite 102, Topeka, KS 66614.

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