James “Jim” Shaw Bohmker, 93, of Corvallis, Ore., died quietly May 22, 2009, at his home, in the arms of his loving wife, Sarah. A memorial service will be held Saturday, June 20, 2009, at 1 p.m. at the South Albany Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, Albany, Ore.

He was born Jan. 29, 1916, in Kankakee, the second child born of John and Luzetta (Thomas) Bohmker. He was a kind and fun-loving companion to his two brothers, Tom and Fred. His love of adventure took him from searching for arrowheads in rural Illinois to sailing the world’s oceans as a teenager aboard a cargo freighter bound for Africa. His love for the sea compelled him to join the Navy during World War II where he served as a Lt. Commander both in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters. His education reflected his lifelong love of rocks, leading him to study geology and engineering, earning him a degree in metallurgy at the Lewis Institute, Chicago, and later a degree in business from Stanford University. His working vocation was in the world of farm machinery from which he retired as West Coast Branch Manager and Vice President of the John Deere Corporation, San Francisco, Calif.

In 1942, he met and fell in love with Sarah Orndorff of Chicago. They were married July 13, 1943. Finding his wife, Sarah, meant being supplied with a partner who shared his love of travel and adventure. She would prove to be the perfect compliment to him in support and love through the 66 years they spent together. They raised three children in the Bay Area of California. After his retirement in 1972, their eyes turned to Oregon in order to be near their family. He quickly became acquainted with every back road and rock bed in this beautiful new region. His extensive collection of rocks and gem stones led him to start making the beautiful handcrafted jewelry that is treasured by many. Despite serious health setbacks, what came to define him in the last decades of his life was his love of people. Becoming one of Jehovah’s Witnesses gave him a clear path of Christian living that filled his days with purposeful activity and comfort. He came to be a staunch supporter of the worldwide educational work of Jehovah’s Witnesses, participating weekly in local meetings. He was often seen by many in the community sharing Bible-based journals with passersby on the streets of Corvallis with his dear wife. His family and friends will miss his ever-present greeting of a broad smile and cherished, “Hello,” but are assured that he is in God’s memory. A friend to all who knew him, he was a beloved father, a loyal husband, and a strong defender of his faith in Jehovah and his son, Christ Jesus.

Survivors include his loving wife, Sarah of Corvallis; a son, John Bohmker of Redmond, Ore.; a daughter, Evelyn Oleman of Corvallis; a son, Tom Harvey Bohmker of Independence, Ore; four grandchildren, Matthew Oleman, Rachel Stoner, Joshua Bohmker and Timothy Bohmker; and two great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death most recently by his grandson, Micah Bohmker.