James H. Frakes

James Harlan Frakes, son of Harlan B. and Marjorie (Sorensen) Frakes, was born prematurely at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on July 15, 1955.  He spent his first month at the hospital.  Mom and Dad were so happy when their first child could finally come home.  Following his first two years in Goldfield, the family moved to Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama for his father’s employment with Chemells’ Hatchery.  They returned to Iowa in 1959.  Jim was elated to be back to help Grandpa farm.  Jim started kindergarten across the street at the Goldfield school.  He loved music and was active in chorus and band in Jr. High and High School.  He played the trumpet, French Horn, also the organ and later his guitar.  He was an excellent student and graduated with the ‘Class of 1973”.  He continued his education at Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. 

      In 1976, Jim ventured to Hawaii with his approachable and friendly smile.  Upon arrival in Oahu, a chance meeting with a guitar maker at the airport provided his first job on the island as the young man’s assistant.  Together they built high quality acoustic guitars with several celebrity artists as their regular clientele.  He lived in Waimanalo on the island of Oahu.  Jim was later employed at Peter Olson’s Poultry complex on the North Shore.  In 1980, while residing on the Big Island of Hawaii, he married H. Haunani Vanetta and in 1981, they attended Evergreen College in Washington State.  They returned to Oahu and together they taught at the Rainbow Day Care Center and Haunani became the director of the center.  The couple later divorced.  Jim went on to work at the Navy PX and taught remedial math at an elementary school near Honolulu.

      The past 20 years, Jim resided at his home near Haleiwa on the North Shore of Hawaii.  He passed away unexpectedly at his home on September 22, 2021.

      Surviving him is his mother, Marjorie of Goldfield; brothers, Gary (Tracy) of Iowa City and Tom (Nancy) of Kearney, MO; nephews and nieces, Thomas of Chicago, IL, Jack (Shannon) of Kansas City, MO, Breanne Fritcher (Justin) and Graham of Smithville, MO, Taylor of Platte City, MO, Katie of Columbia, MO and Carson of Dodge City, MO; aunts, Marge Smith of Springfield, IL and Pat Frakes Dawson of Fredericksburg, VA and many cousins.  He was preceded in death by his father, Harlan; grandparents, Clarence and Mildred J. Sorensen and Harold and Gertrude Frakes; uncles and aunts, Lynn and Shirley Sorensen, Lowell Smith, Richard Frakes, Larry Frakes (Rodean) and Dolores Frakes Drennan and a cousin, Lynnda Sorensen Abels.

      Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, October 30, 2021, at the Goldfield Methodist Church with Rev. Lynn Gardner officiating.  Visitation will be one hour prior to service time at the church.  Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery, Goldfield.

     Memorials may be left to the discretion of the family.

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