James "Jim" Tinsley

James Brian "Jim" Tinsley, 57, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at his home in Topeka, Kansas.
Jim was born March 22, 1967, in Topeka to William and Bernice (Koper) Tinsley, the youngest of their ten children.
He graduated from Hayden High School in 1985 and attended Washburn University before embarking on his 33-year professional career, first as a Control Room Operator at Tecumseh Energy Center and then as a Transmission System Operator for Evergy, before retiring in 2022.
Jim was one of the hardest workers you'd ever meet. All 33 years of his career were spent working a shift work schedule, switching every two weeks from day shift to afternoon shift to night shift, and then the cycle would repeat. Even with his rigorous work schedule, he always made time to play with his children and grandchildren, including sword fights, Lego building, story time, scavenger hunts (which included detailed clue maps that he would create himself), and trips to the Zoo.
Jim had so many talents, and one of them was his construction ability. Over the years, he built three new homes for his family, overseeing every detail of the building process, and making sure it was done right. There were only a handful of things that he needed to sub-out to contractors. Everything else he did himself, along with the help of his lifelong friend, Gary D. Smith, and his brother-in-law, Scott; and the quality of the work was top notch! He also spent countless hours on yard work, and the lawn was the envy of the neighborhood.
Jim's love for music was ignited while working for Mother Earth Records while in high school. He was a member and a volunteer of Topeka Blues Society, doing his part to help keep the blues alive in Northeast Kansas. He attended hundreds of concerts during his lifetime, in which he kept every ticket stub! His favorite concert venue is Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Morrison, Colorado, and no visit to Morrison was complete without stopping to eat at Tony Rigatoni's Italian Kitchen and taking the traditional picture in front of the tree.
Through his vibrant personality and ability to light up and command a room, Jim made countless life-long friends, many of whom shared his passion for a cold craft beer, finely brewed coffee, live music, and a good – and perhaps often-told – story. To know Jim, was to love him, and he reciprocated that love in how he lived his life, always being there through good times and bad to lend a hand, an ear, or advice. His impact on everyone he met was great and he'll be sorely missed by all those who loved him.
Jim is survived by his three children, John Tinsley (Rebekah) of Excelsior, MN, Alexa Tinsley of Topeka, and Dylan Tinsley of Lawrence; two grandchildren, Andrew Tinsley and Luke Tinsley; seven siblings, David (Jenny) Tinsley of Topeka; Anne (Barry) Stark of West Chicago, IL, Gerry (Debbie) Tinsley of Topeka, Bill Tinsley of Topeka, Cathie (Mike) Halpin of Topeka, Barb (Scott) DeWalt of Topeka, and Bob Tinsley (Steve Barstow) of Baltimore, MD; and 15 nieces and nephews to whom he was an uncle, godfather, brother, father, and best friend, all wrapped into one.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents and two of his siblings, Rita Summers and Michael Tinsley.
To honor Jim's memory, services will be held on Friday, June 21, 2024, at Kevin Brennan Family Funeral Home, 2801 SW Urish Road, Topeka KS 66614. Family will greet friends from 12:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. when the Rosary will be prayed. A Celebration of Jim's Life will begin at 2:30 p.m., all at the funeral home.
Named as honorary pall bearers are some of Jim's best friends, Cleo Roehrman, Richard von Soosten, Steve Lingard, Tom Hedges, Rick Jolly, Gary Smith, Brian Littrell and Scott Pearson.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Jim's memory to the Topeka Blues Society or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and send in care of the funeral home.
Condolences may be sent online to www.kevinbrennanfamily.com.