James Cardens Obituary

James Thomas "J.T." Cardens, 75, of Baldwin City, KS, was born October 23, 1941, in St. Louis, MO, a son of Alphonse Frank and Mary Jane (Doyel) Cardens, and died Thursday evening, December 29, 2016, at his home in Baldwin City. Mr. Cardens was united in marriage on December 31, 1979, in Honolulu, HI, to the former Sandra Joyce Baker. He was preceded in death by his father, Alphonse on June 30, 1947, his mother, Mary Jane on November 4, 1979, a half-brother, Alphonse F. Cardens, Jr., Redding, CA and a half-sister, Shirley J. Hughes, Holts Summit, MO.

Mr. Cardens retired as a Lt. from the United States Navy after 20 years of service. In 1983, he became plant operations director for ServiceMaster in several locations; he later worked at the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, and as plant operations director at Baker University, Baldwin City, retiring in 2003. Mr. Cardens, an avid golfer and joke teller, was a member of the Baldwin City Golf Assn., Friends of the Lumberyard Arts Center, Friends of the Baldwin City Library, Fleet Reserve Association and American Legion Post Number 5.

He is survived by his wife, Sandra, of the home; one son Jesse J. Cardens (Veronica Whipple), Baldwin City; a brother Donald R. (Miho) Cardens, Port Orchard, WA; a half-sister, Bonnie Brooks, Rolla, MO, several nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends.



Services will be conducted noon Friday, January 6, 2017 at Birmingham-Martin Funeral Home in Vienna, MO, (visitation at 11:00 a.m.).

Immediately following the service, interment with full military honors will be held at the Kenner Cemetery near Dixon, MO.

Memorial contributions are suggested by the family to the Lumberyard Arts Center, Box 523, Baldwin City, KS 66006, or the Dg. Co. Visiting Nurses Ass'n., 200 Maine, Ste. C, Lawrence, KS 66044.

A memorial celebration will be held at a later date in Baldwin City, KS