James H Dubois, 1950-2005

James “Jim” Harrison Dubois, 55, of Manhattan, died Sunday, April 10, at his residence.

He was born on March 13, 1950, in Kansas City, Mo., the son of Donald Kenneth and Florine Louise (Haigh) Dubois.

On June 10, 1978 in Shawnee Mission, he was united in marriage to Marianne Allen. He graduated from Kansas State University with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in architecture. He taught in the Department of Interior Architecture and Product Design where he was promoted to associate professor in 1990 and full professor in 2000. He was elected to five three-year terms in the KSU Faculty Senate, the last coming April 5, 2005. The focus of Mr. Dubois’ projects with students was to restore buildings to productive use in the community, which led to his receiving the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation, presented by Governor Graves in 1998.

He was a member of the St. Isidore Catholic Student Center and Boy Scouts of America. As a youth in Michigan, he was a counselor at scout summer camp for two seasons at Camp Rotary. In Manhattan, he was a devoted leader in the BSA for the past 16 years. Youth from the Bluemont and Eugene Field Schools in Cub Scout Pack 272 and youth from Troop 74, chartered by the First Presbyterian Church, benefited from his service as an assistant den leader, den leader, webelos leader, cubmaster, pack treasurer, pack committee chair, pack committee member and assistant scoutmaster. His family said he influenced the journeys of scouts through his leadership, participation and dedication. Coronado Area Council’s Pawnee District honored him with the Cubmaster of the Year Award in 1992 and the Scoutmaster of the Year Award in 1996.

He is survived by his wife Marianne Dubois; two sons, Joshua Harrison Dubois of Brooklyn, NY, and Nicholas Allen Dubois of Manhattan; his father, Donald Dubois of Lenexa; four sisters, Donna Rees and husband Douglas of Harbor Beach, Mich., Jean Goodman and husband Douglas of Lenexa, Mary Sue Strickland and husband Steven of Flower Mound, Texas, and Margaret DeVoss and husband Mark of Springfield, Mo.; seven brothers, Norman Dubois and wife Janis of Olathe, Martin Dubois and wife Twyla of Lawrence, Mark Dubois and wife Jean of Auburn, Ala., John Dubois and wife Jennifer of Prairie Village, Robert Dubois and wife Jane of Overland Park, Paul Dubois and wife Amy of Bristow, Va. and David Dubois and wife Elizabeth of Frankfort, Ill.; 16 nieces, 16 nephews; five great-nieces; father and mother-in-law, William C. and Alice L. Allen of Manhattan; one brother-in-law, Jim Allen and wife Nancy of Lenexa, and one sister-in-law, Jane Dickerson of Prairie Village.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Florine Dubois in 2000, and a nephew, Mark X Allen in 1994.

Mass of the Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, April 13, at the St Isidore Catholic Student Center with Father Keith Weber officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Burlingame Cemetery in Burlingame.

A Christian Wake Service will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home with the family receiving friends following until 8 p.m. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.ymlfuneralhome.com.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established for the James Harrison Dubois Memorial Fund. Memorial contributions may be left in care of the Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan KS 66502.

A special note to Jim’s students and friends:

Approximately three years ago, Jim was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable, hereditary disease. Per his wishes, few people knew of his condition until about two weeks ago when he was no longer able to meet his teaching and other responsibilities. He entered the hospital until this past Friday evening when he was able to go home under hospice care. He passed away there about 2:00 a.m. Sunday morning.

Among his many family and friends who mourn his passing are his wife, Marianne, sons Nicholas and Josh, his father, and 11 brothers and sisters. Cards may be sent to the home (2721 Browning Avenue, Manhattan KS 66502) or to the Department of Interior Architecture and Product Design, 203C Seaton Hall, Kansas State University, Manhattan KS 66506.

Visitation is Tuesday, April 12, at 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Yorgensen-Meloan-Londeen Funeral Home, 1616 Poyntz Avenue, Manhattan (785.539.7481). The funeral will be Wednesday, April 13, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Isadore, 711 Denison Avenue, Manhattan. Burial will be in Burlingame, KS.

IAPD classes are being cancelled Wednesday from 9:30-11:30 a.m. so that IAPD faculty and students may attend the service.

See the above obituary for memorial information.

This information was sent via email to CAPD faculty, staff, and students; IAPD alumni; AR alumni from the years when Jim was a student here; and other CAPD friends.