James Lekas

1936 - 2023

James "Jim" Lekas, 87, peacefully passed away in his sleep on Monday, November 27, 2023 while in the hospital in Winchester, VA due to aspiration pneumonia.
Jim was born in San Francisco, CA, on October 5, 1936, to Harry and Eugenia Lekas and he was a first generation Greek American. Jim grew up in San Francisco and later in San Anselmo, CA. Jim graduated from the Marin Catholic High School and he attended the University of San Francisco.
Jim and his family moved from Marin County to Lodi, CA in 1958. Jim was drafted into the Army in 1960. Following basic training and clerk school, Jim was sent to Madigan General Hospital in Tacoma, Washington where he served as a chaplain's assistant. When his two-year tour of duty ended in 1962, he returned to Lodi and began a career with the Lodi Post Office. In early 1969, Jim was visiting a fellow post office employee, Ed Kermgard, where he met Ed's sister Linda "Sue" Kermgard.
Jim and Sue were married on July 12, 1969 in Fair Oaks, California. Jim and Sue were blessed with 2 children, Kevin and Kimberlee. On April 30th, 1992 Jim retired from the Post Office. Jim and Sue moved to McMinnville, OR where they lived for the next 28 years. Jim and Sue celebrated their 51st wedding anniversary in July of 2020, just prior to Sue's passing later that month. After Sue's passing, Jim relocated to Winchester, VA to live with his son Kevin and daughter-in-law Kelly. Jim and Kevin took several train trips while Jim lived in VA including a transcontinental round trip on Amtrak to Portland, OR and then back to Virginia in 2021.
Jim spent much of his spare time with his lifelong railroad hobby. He has been a railroad buff all his life, specializing in the history of the western railroads. His deep railroad interest may have come from the fact that his father worked on the railroad when he first came to America. Many of Jim's photos and his historical knowledge of western railroads have been published in multiple books and other publications over the years. He will be greatly missed by the many historical railroad societies, groups, and friends he was actively involved with across the country.
Jim is survived by his son Kevin Lekas (Kelly) of Winchester, VA; daughter Kimberlee Osborn (Kenneth) of Lincoln, NE; grandson Benjamin Lekas (Lindsay) of Davison, MI; granddaughter Brittney Lekas of Carrboro, NC; great grandsons Ryder, Ledger, and Rowan; and his dedicated care giver Kimberly "Lupe" Baker of Winchester, VA. Jim is preceded in death by his beloved wife Sue, and his parents Harry and Eugenia Lekas.
A Funeral Mass was said at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Winchester, VA on Monday, December 11th, 2023 at 11 AM. After the funeral and as a tribute to Jim's love of railroads, Kevin and Kelly will transport Jim's ashes to Sacramento, CA on Amtrak's California Zepher. After a brief visit with the California family and friends, Kevin and Kelly will continue to transport Jim's ashes on Amtrak's Coast Starlight to Portland, OR. A Memorial will be held at St. James Catholic Church in McMinnville, OR on December 20th, 2023 at 10:30 AM. Final committal will be at the Willamette National Cemetery in Portland, OR on December 21st at 9:15 AM. In lieu of flowers or gifts, please consider a donation in Jim's name to the Western Railway Museum in Suisun City, CA, or the Market Street Railway in San Francisco, CA, or the Winchester, VA chapter of the National Railway Historical Society (NRHS).