James Robert Kohut

James (Jim) Robert Kohut, 67, passed away on April 28, 2023. Jim was born on August 17, 1955 to Joanne K. Kohut and Robert I. Kohut, both deceased. Jim is survived by his loving wife and friend of many years, Marylou F. Kohut, his daughter, Rebecca A. Vreeland, his sister, Paula A. Kohut, brothers, Robert J. Kohut and John E. Kohut, nephews, Clifford M. Kohut and Christopher R. Kohut, niece, Emily A. Kohut, grandniece, Emma J. Kohut and grandnephew, R. Andrew Kohut, aunt, Donna M. Palmer, and uncle, Al Ohm, and many cousins from Chicago. Jim was preceded in death by grandparents, Emil and Ruth Kohut, and George and Harriet Hughes. 

Jim was a man of many talents, most notably being a master carpenter and builder. After graduating from Laguna Beach High in Laguna Beach, California, he attended University of California, Berkeley. In typical fashion, Jim brought home stories of his deep ocean dives, as well as diving adventures off the coast of Mexico, not to mention tales of Grateful Dead and other concerts of that era. 

Academics did not hold his interest long before he pursued his true passion for carpentry and building. He was the superintendent for Treister Construction in Keystone Heights, Florida for many years. He later served as assistant director to Bryant Bivens at Hope Valley Treatment Center in Dobson, North Carolina. After leaving Hope Valley, he had his own contracting business remodeling homes. 

Jim had a knack for adventure, piloting a plane from Reno to Lone Pine where he climbed Mount Whitney in the California Sierras just south of where Jim, his father, sister, Paula, and brother, Bob, backpacked over Kearsarge Pass to Bullfrog Lake in the 1970s. His next stop was St. Barts Island to renovate the home of his longtime friend, Larry (Groovy) Gray on St. Barts Island where he also flew for Larry’s Caribbean airline, Air Mango, and set up firework displays in the Caribbean for Larry’s Moonlight Fireworks. 

Jim and Marylou had many travels and adventures, including RVing cross country to national parks, riding mules down the Grand Canyon to Canyon Ranch on the Colorado River, helicoptering to the Mendenhall Glacier in Alaska, and traveling from Key West to Maine, enjoying deep sea and lake fishing, rock hounding, concerts, horse racing at Saratoga (where he won big) and gambling in Atlantic City (continuing his winning streak!). 

Jim loved fishing, skydiving, white water rafting, water skiing and anything involving adventure and adrenaline. Jim had a sharp wit, was a storyteller supreme and loved both practical and impractical jokes. Jim’s passion for scaring friends and family is believed to have started with putting tree frogs in his mother’s purse after the family moved from Chicago to Florida. While living in Kernersville, Jim took his nephew Chris under his wing and shared his love of scary movies and stories. 

Jim will be remembered by many as he was a stranger to no one and was quick to make you smile. He cherished his four-legged best friends, most recently, Molly Mae and Shadow. 

A memorial service is scheduled for Friday, May 12, 2023 for family and friends at Roberta Methodist Church, 3925 Cochran Road, Concord, North Carolina. The memorial service will begin at 12 p.m., followed by a reception and celebration of life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to: Esther’s Heart, PO Box 6653, Concord, NC 28027 www.esthersheart.com.