James R. Lynch

James R. “Jim” Lynch, 76, passed away peacefully at home and in the arms of his loving wife on July 21, 2022. Visitation will be from 6:30 – 8:30 PM Friday, July 29, 2022 at Visitation Catholic Church, 5141 Main St., K.C., MO 64112. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00 AM Saturday, July 30 at the church. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, K.C., MO.

Memorial contributions may be made to the University of Notre Dame. Please direct your gift to the Grace Angel Lynch Memorial Scholarship in memory of Jim Lynch. Gifts may be made online at giving.nd.edu, selecting “other” as intended target and then type in the name of the scholarship, Grace Angel Lynch Memorial Scholarship; by phone at (574) 631-5150, or by mail: University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, IN 46556 or to The Jim Lynch Scholarship Fund at Lima Central Catholic High School. Donations can be given at lcchs.edu, checks can be made out to the LCC Educational Foundation, 720 S. Cable Rd., Lima, OH 45805.

Jim was born on August 28, 1945 in Lima, Ohio to the late Rodney and Marie Lynch. He graduated from Lima Central Catholic High School in 1963 and from the University of Notre Dame in 1967. He was the starting middle linebacker, consensus first team All-American and sole Captain of the 1966 Fighting Irish National Championship Football Team.

Jim was the father of four children: Megan Webber, husband Brian, of Los Angeles, CA, Kara Ciocca, husband Doug, of Leawood, KS, Jake, wife Betsy, of Kansas City, MO, and Grace Angel, who was called to the Lord so early in her life. He was the proud grandfather, “Papa” of nine beautiful grandchildren: Matthew, Benjamin, and Hailey Webber, Morgan, Nathan, and Mia Ciocca and Jimmy, Kathy Madge, and Billy Lynch.

Jim was predeceased by his oldest sibling, Rodney Lynch, (wife Faye) of Columbus, OH, and survived by 3 others: Adm. Tom Lynch, (wife Kathy, deceased), of West Palm Beach, FL, Raymond and Judy Lynch of Minster, OH, and sister Cheryl Haskin of Overland Park, KS.

He is also survived by his in-laws, Kathy Pedrotti and husband Dennis of San Diego California, Mary Anne Laprebendere and husband Hugo of Miami, Florida, David and wife Pat of Huntington Beach, California, and Bill Quatman and wife Denise of Kansas City, MO.

George (father-in-law) and Evelyn (mother-in-law) Quatman predeceased Jim but not before living into their 90s. They first met their future son-in-law when he was only 13 years old and served as role models for Jim throughout his life.

Jim had numerous nieces and nephews whom he dearly loved.

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Georgia Quatman, immediately following their college graduations. Shortly thereafter, with Jim being drafted by the AFL’s Chiefs, they moved to Kansas City, and built a life focused on family, friends and fulfillment for over 50 years. They celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in June and were an inspirational example of love, respect, commitment and selflessness to all those who knew them together.

As was common back then, Jim held a second job in the NFL off-season, working as an institutional equity salesman at Walston and Company in New York City.

It was around this time that he made an acquaintance that forever positively impacted the trajectory of his personal and professional life, that of Daniel “Dan” Hogerty II.

Jim joined Dan at D. Thomas & Associates in 1974 as President of a team of representatives dedicated to providing a complete array of packaging solutions for the food industry. In Dan, not only did Jim find a business partner, but a kindred spirit, a gin rummy adversary and a best friend. They spent 45 successful years at the helm of D. Thomas before retiring together in December of 2019.

Jim was a highly decorated athlete in college – receiving many high honors and awards. In addition to being an All-American, he was awarded the Maxwell Trophy as the outstanding college Football Player in 1966, the Washington D.C. Touchdown Club Award for the outstanding college lineman, The National Football Foundation and Hall of Fame Scholar Athlete award, The College Sports Information Director of America Scholar, was named an Eastman Kodak All American, Sporting News All American, N.E.A. All American, American Football Coaches Association All American, the U.P. I. All American, The Columbus Touchdown Club All American, the Football Writers Association of America All American, and the Associated Press All American. Jim played in the 1967 Coaches All American Game, and was Captain of the East West Shrine Game and Captain of the College All Star Game. He was a member of the University of Notre Dame 100 Year All Time Team, and in 1992 was the University of Notre Dame Club “Man of the Year,” the N.C.A.A. Silver Anniversary Award winner, and also in 1992 was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame.

Jim was a Linebacker with the Kansas City Chiefs for eleven years, playing in the 1969 American Football League All-Star game, and was a member of the 1970 Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Team. Jim was inducted into the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame in 1990 and was a member of the Kansas City Chiefs 25 Year All Time Team. In 1991 he was awarded the Orlando Touchdown Club “Dick Butkus 25 Year Anniversary Award” for outstanding college linebackers who proved themselves in professional careers.

Professionally, Jim was Chairman of the Young Bakers Association, and member of the American Bakery Association, and the Allied Trades of the Baking Industry Boards of Directors. He was President of the Allied Trades of the Baking Industry.

Civically, Jim was President of the Notre Dame University National Monogram Club, Visitation Parish Campaign Chairman, Christmas in October Kansas City Board of Directors, was a Knight of the Sovereign Order of Malta and Hospitaller for the Kansas City Chapter of the Federal Association of the Order of Malta. Jim often volunteered at St. James Place Food Kitchen, Shalom House, and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Jim was an active and dedicated member of Visitation Parish, and a member of Indian Hills Country Club, D.C. Ranch Country Club in Scottsdale, AZ, and Butler Country Club in Chicago.

Jim was an amazing man who will be greatly missed by those with whom he came into contact. His life was dedicated to his faith, his family, his friends, and his community. He was a good man who always tried to do the right thing.

We hold a special place in our hearts for the memories we share of Jim. We are blessed to have had his dynamic influence in our lives. His warmth of spirit and depth of character catalyzed a craving for his companionship. His was a life well-lived and those who knew him lived theirs better for it.