James C. Lampke

James Charles Lampke  "Jim"  76, a long-time resident of Cranston, who had recently returned to Rhode Island after many years in Wauchula, Florida and Hilton Head, South Carolina passed away on Saturday June 22, 2024. Born in Ft. Wayne, Indiana to Charles and Lucile Lampke, Jim joined the Navy after graduating high school in 1966 and was stationed at the Quonset Point Navy Base in North Kingstown where he trained as a “Seabee” and was then deployed to McMurdo Station in Antarctica. It was during his time at Quonset Point that he met his first wife Marion (Lemlin) formerly of Cranston. They married in November 1969 and raised two children Jason and Vanessa while Jim worked for General Dynamics Electric Boat in North Kingstown. In 1990, Jim met his second wife Marjorie (Brynes) through their shared exuberance for Cajun music. With Marge’s unyielding encouragement and support, Jim enrolled in the Community College of Rhode Island and went on to receive a Bachelor of Science degree in Electronic Engineering from Johnson & Wales University. Jim and Marge moved to Florida, where they married in 2000, and later to South Carolina where they enjoyed their retirement travelling and staying active with Hilton Head Island’s beaches and social life. Marge passed away in November 2023. Jim was an adventurer and explorer who loved to travel and experience new things. Whether navigating rivers and ponds with a fishing rod and a cooler of cold ones in his canoe, hiking rugged trails from Mt. Washington to Mt. Tamalpais, mountain biking in Colorado or California, or body surfing at East Matunuck or Narragansett, Jim found joy and escape in the great outdoors. Jim’s wanderlust and ability to get lost led him to discover places far from his hometown of Ft. Wayne. He embarked on countless road trips across the U.S., from the Florida Keys to the Pacific Northwest, to the majestic White Mountains of New Hampshire. His Navy service took him on remarkable journeys to Morocco, New Zealand, Chile, and Antarctica and he and Marge enjoyed trips to England, Paris and Spain. In all these trips, Jim enjoyed the journey as much as the destination. Jim was also an accomplished photographer and artist. His intricate stained-glass windows and lamps brought light and color into many lives, while his creativity and mechanical skills led to many innovative projects around the house and in the garage workshop. Jim was a dedicated community member. Actively involved in fishing clubs, Cajun music festivals, and Unitarian Universalist church groups, he eagerly contributed his time and energy. Jim's sense of humor and kind character made him a fast friend to everyone he met, and he was dearly beloved by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his son Jason Lampke and wife Maria of Valencia, Spain, daughter Vanessa Botheroyd and husband Peter of South Kingstown, sister Connie Shepherd and husband Sam of Seattle, WA, stepson Andrew Brynes and wife Kayla, stepdaughter Erica Brynes and wife Gena, grandchildren Wrenano, Tommy, Candela, Eva, Ivy, and step-grandchildren Sophie, Abigail, Max, and Jensen. Jim was also the proud uncle of Sean, Heather, Nate, and Anna.

A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Sunday July 28, 2024 at 2:00pm in the Westminster Unitarian Church 119 Kenyon Avenue East Greenwich, RI 02818.