James Leon “Bunny” Folk, 79, Iola, died Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014, at Allen County Regional Hospital.
James was born Jan. 21, 1935, at home, the son of John L. “Bunch” and Stella (Leake) Folk. He grew up in Iola.
On July 10, 1953, James married Jo Ann Burris at Grace Lutheran Church in Iola. They traveled with pipeline construction for the first five years of their marriage before returning to the Iola area. He worked as a welder and owned Folk Brothers Drilling until he retired. Jo Ann preceded him in death Dec. 8, 1996.
He was a member of Grace Lutheran Church in Iola, Eastern Kansas Oil and Gas Association and Iola Elks.
He is survived by his companion, Helen Franco; three children, Jimmy Leon Folk of Gas, Rebecca Leis and husband Wendell of Yates Center and Lori Tersinar of Pittsburg; three brothers, Jerald Folk and wife Vickie of Gas, Joe Folk and wife Cindy and Jesse Folk and wife Susan, all of Iola; four sisters, Carole Holcomb and husband Gene of Sun City, Ariz., Nancy Yancey and husband Donnie and Joyce Maley and husband Jim, all of Iola, and Linda Knapp and husband Larry of Mount Hope, Wisc.; eight grandchildren, Darrin Folk, Clinton Folk, Jesse Folk, Patrick Leis, Dustin Leis, Bridget Kramer, Drew Tersinar and Tanner Tersinar; 10 great-grandchildren, Jake Folk, Jaryn Folk, Weston Folk, Harper Folk, Leah Leis, Adam Leis, Clare Leis, Madeleine Leis, Elizabeth Leis and Rebecca Leis.
He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, brothers Jerry Lee and John R. “Tom” Folk, sisters Judith Folk, Charlene Shaughnessy and Susie Erhart, granddaughter LaTausha Dawn Folk Cavins and great-granddaughter Jade Estelle Cavins.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Waugh-Yokum and Friskel Chapel in Iola. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 o’clock tonight at the funeral home.
Memorials may be made to Allen County Home Health or Allen County Hospice and left with the funeral home.
To sign the guestbook online or leave a condolence, go to www.iolafuneral.com.
James Folk
