Obituary of James Warren Slabaugh

Jim Slabaugh had a good life, an amazing run. He loved well, built galore, and offered wisdom to those who asked. With ever gentle presence he lived his life simply, proud of being scruffy, proud of pinching pennies, never grandstanding. Always ready for humor and silliness, Jim laughed a frequent and full-throated, gleeful cackle. Jim was an artist in wood. His well-crafted cabinetry was inventive and often ingenious, uniquely custom created for each setting and for each person. His work was always pleasing to the eye and touch, imbued with loveliness. Jim was unassuming about his considerable skill. Always in demand, he never advertised; word of mouth was what got him jobs. Jim was born in Flora, Indiana to Glenn Slabaugh (a professor and farmer) and Ruth Bowman (a homemaker and registered nurse). Until coming to California, he lived his life within 100 miles of Chicago. One of six boys (Jim was oldest, then came Curtis, Paul, Richard, David, Steven; Paul and David have preceded him), Jim was raised in Church of the Brethren and was a Brethren minister for eight years until he recognized that the ministry was not for him. He then taught high school science and math for eight years. In summers he worked as a general carpenter/ handyman, building and remodeling houses in Rockford, Illinois. Slowly over some years, pursuing the building trades fully came to be his line of work, imbued with his signature of beauty and sensitivity to people’s needs. Jim was first married to Katherine Moore. Together they raised four wonderful children: Lecia Marye Apantaku Milner of Michigan (surgeon and professor), Mark Kevin Slabaugh of Gilroy, CA (engineer), Nadine Annette Burrington Foist of Baja, Mexico (OB/GYN), Warren William Slabaugh of Rockford, Illinois (small business owner). These four have given us nine delightful grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren (and counting). In Santa Cruz County, Jim lived first in Brookdale off-and-on from 1978 while building a house for his first cousin Robert Kinzie. He then lived in Ben Lomond for ten years on property shared with his first cousin Kenneth Kinzie. In 1980 Jim and midwife Karen Ehrlich set off on a journey of 44 years together, living first in Ben Lomond until Jim built them a home in Lompico where they lived for 34 years. Jim died at home in Karen’s arms, slipping away peacefully in the dark of early morning following an unexpectedly speedy and challenging decline. He was 92 years old. Hospice of Santa Cruz helped us mightily in making our way through Jim’s last weeks; contributions in his memory would be gratefully received. Cremation was in the hands of Santa Cruz Memorial Park. Private remembrances welcome. No memorial is currently planned.