James E. “Jim” Vader Sr, 88, Mission Hills, KS died on Sunday, 16th of November 2025 at KU Medical Center.
Jim was born February 11, 1937 to Harold (“Tub”) and Betty (Cotter) Vader in Kansas City, Kansas. He attended St. Peter’s Cathedral grade school and Bishop Ward High School, class of 1955 and was inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2014. His senior year, he was captain of the football team and Kansas State Champion in the 440-yard dash.
He attended Kansas State University on a track scholarship, graduating in 1959 with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration. He was a member of two Big 8 record-setting mile relay teams in 1958 and 1959, which also competed in the Sugar Bowl Classic. Jim qualified for the Olympic trials in the 440-yard dash. He was also a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon and Theta Nu Epsilon social fraternities and the Monkey Club.
Jim married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Culver, in 1960 and founded Vader Insurance, Inc. the same year. He was past president of the Independent Insurance Agents’ Association, the Wyandotte Mental Health Association and member of the Johnson County Mental Health Association. He was a member and past president of the Kansas State University Catbackers Club. He was a partner in a pizza franchise and co-owned a Topsy’s Popcorn franchise with his wife. Jim was elected to the Johnson County Water One board and served for 24 years; two years served as chairman. He spent several years officiating football and basketball at both the high school and college levels.
He is survived by his wife Sandra of 65 years, children: Jane Vader (Shawn Meisl), Jim Vader Jr., Joan L. Vader (recently deceased, Siouxz Duncan), sister-in-law Diane Vader, sister Marybeth Kennedy, brother Jay (Leigh), Leonard (Susie) Buchan, Kim (Jeff) Sweet, and many nieces and nephews, and his dog Captain. Jim was preceded in death by his parents (Bett and Tub), brother Joseph, brother-in-law Joe Kennedy, niece Sarah Vader, brother and sister-in-law Charlotte and Frank Buchan, and nephew Clay Maupin.
He was an avid runner, and loved his convertibles, gardening, traveling with his wife, and golf trips with friends. He coached St. Peter’s and St. Ann’s grade school basketball teams for over 20 years and was a Eucharistic minister at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. He was featured in the Kansas City Star for his leg of lamb recipe. Jim delighted in telling people that he had the same wife and job for over 65 years. The Vader’s annual Halloween party for friends and neighbors began over 40 years ago on High Drive and continued on 69th Street.
Services: St. Ann’s Catholic Church, 7231 Mission Rd., Prairie Village, KS with the visitation from 9-11 a.m., followed by Mass at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 22, 2025
The family requests no flowers and suggest memorial contributions go to: Children’s CancerFundNY.org or Bishop Ward High School.