James Orlando Harms died 24 September 2024 at his home in Newton KS.
He was born in Hillsboro KS on 26 January 1943 to Orlando and Erna (Wiebe) Harms. He lived in Wichita while his father pastored the First Mennonite Brethren Church. In his elementary years the family moved back to Hillsboro. He graduated from Hillsboro High School in 1960.
Following high school he attended Tabor College (Hillsboro) for one year. Over the next six to eight years he attended Wichita State University, earning his bachelor’s degree and hours towards his master’s degree. In between times at university he would go back to California. He had fond memories of the many friends he made while living and working there.
On August 4, 1976 he married Elaine Roupp from Oregon in Santa Cruz CA. Their first home was near Goessel KS. In 1986 they moved to Newton KS. After ten years they moved into a small apartment in the commercial building where he had his pipe organ business.
He was very mechanically-minded. He could figure out how to make something work by studying how it was made. He just knew how something fit together. He was also very musical. He played various instruments, making music with his horn or sax in jazz bands or playing violin in the San Jose CA symphony while living there.
He was a social worker, teacher, printer, builder of auto racing engines, and finally a pipe organ builder and voicer. He knew what he wanted the final instrument to sound like so he designed and built mechanical-action pipe organs and spent much time making them sound like he wanted them to sound. He regretted not being able to restore all the old cars he acquired over the years, specifically Nissan 300Zs and MGs.
He struggled with a disability from a major auto accident in the early 1970’s but kept going. In 2012 he fell and broke a hip from which he never fully recovered with his ability to walk decreasing. But he kept up his spirit. He worked on family geneology, researched and published articles about one specific Mennonite clockmaker from the Mennonite settlements in Prussia and south Russia. He kept abreast of world happenings by reading the international press and various news groups.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Orlando and Erna Harms.
Leaving to mourn is his wife of 48 years, Elaine, brother Robert (Sandy Wiens) Harms of Guilford CT, sister Marilyn (C Richard) Jeppesen of Slidell LA, nieces Lisa Domingo of Indianapolis IN and Laura (David) Zoppo of Pine CO, and great niece Liv Zoppo.
Cremation has taken place. There are no services planned at this time.
Memorials may be given to the Mennonite Library and Archives at Bethel College, North Newton KS or the Center for Mennonite Brethren Studies at Tabor College, Hillsboro KS.