James Corn

James Corn, 94, of Missoula, passed away at home on Friday, July 9th, 2021, with his loved ones at his side. James was born in Missouri to James and Bertha Corn. Immediately after graduating high school, he enlisted in the Navy in 1944 and was honorably discharged in 1946. He attended Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology in Tulsa, OK. In 1951, he married Wanda. The couple lived in Kansas City before moving to Phoenix, AZ where Jim worked for Motorola. Six years later they moved to the Bay Area. He loved camping, hunting, and fishing and brought the family on many vacations to Montana where he eventually purchased a communications business. Jim and Wanda packed up and moved to Missoula Beverly Hillbilly-style with a wheelbarrow strapped on the back of a U-Haul and four kids and a dog in an International TravelAll. Country living in Montana allowed the kids to raise horses, steers, and chickens, and when Jim wasn’t running his business, he farmed the land, installing irrigation and growing hay as well as a large vegetable garden. In retirement, Jim and Wanda traveled to Hawaii, Alaska, the East Coast, and Europe with many trips in their camper to visit grandkids in Montana, Oregon, and Washington and extended family in Missouri and Ohio, where Jim researched and compiled his family genealogy. He earned his pilot’s license and volunteered at the Museum of Mountain Flying. He was a member of the local Model A club, restoring a 1930 Model A. He also restored his sister’s 1966 Ford Mustang and entered both in car shows across the Northwest. Proud of his service in the military and with a huge respect for all veterans, Jim was active in the Color Guard for many years. On Monday mornings, he was either eating breakfast with the crew out at the Missoula County Airport or loading up on pancakes at the American Legion. These few words cannot possibly sum up who James Corn was. Devoted husband, father, brother, and friend, he will be missed by all who had the privilege to know him. The last of his seven siblings, he is survived by his wife of 70 years, two sons, two daughters, seven grandchildren, and five great grandchildren. Jim will receive military funeral honors in a private family service at a later date.