James Howard Budke, 60, of Kansas City, Mo., passed away February 28, 2012, after a courageous, seven and a half year battle with cancer.

James was born on Dec. 7, 1951, at the Community Hospital in Beloit, Kan., to Leo C. Budke and Virginia A. Howard. He grew up in Cawker City, Kan., and attended St. Theresa's Elementary School and Cawker City High School. After his freshman year in High School, the family moved to Osawatomie, Kan., where he graduated from Osawatomie High School in 1969.

Jim attended Kansas State University and graduated with a degree in accounting. He was a devoted Wildcat fan for the rest of his life. One of his greatest pleasures was attending football and basketball games with his children in Manhattan, and enjoying tailgate parties with his college buddies.

On May 10, 1980, Jim was united in marriage to Katie Clarke. They were married for over 31 years and were blessed with three children, Andy, Ginny, and Julie.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, grandparents, many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Survivors are his wife, Katie, children, Andy and wife Stephanie, Ginny, and Julie and fiance Matt Wibbenmeyer, all of the Kansas City area. Also surviving are his sister, Marcia Roberts of Fairbanks, Alaska, his niece, Vickie Green and family of Stockton, Calif., his nephew, Jason Roberts of North Pole, Alaska, and his aunt, Connie Wesley of Salina, Kan.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, March 2, at Porter Funeral Home, 8535 Monrovia, Lenexa, Kan. The Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 3, at Visitation Catholic Church, Kansas City, followed by entombment at Resurrection Mausoleum, Lenexa.

Pall bearers are Jason Roberts, Paul Bartak, Rob Jonas, Bob Innes, John Appleby, Mark Shipley, Luke Smith, and Doug Dorothy. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations are suggested to the R.A. Bloch Cancer Foundation, One H&R Block Way, Kansas City, or the Susan Cohan Colon Cancer Foundation.