James E. Varner
December 7, 1944 – April 3, 2021
Jim was born on Dec. 7, 1944 in Honolulu, HI to Arthur and Louise Varner.
He graduated from Kalani High School in 1962 and Southern Oregon College (Ashland) in 1968.
He was proud of his many years of community activities. Jim served as president of many organizations including the Honolulu Jaycees, Hawaii State Jaycees and the Honolulu Executives Association. He especially loved his involvement with Rotary International, serving as president of the Rotary Club of Pearl Harbor and District 5000 Governor.
He owned and operated the franchise for the Dale Carnegie Training programs for Hawaii and Guam. Jim enjoyed a 30-year career in sales, management and personal training. Speaking before groups of all sizes as well as instructing all of the Carnegie programs was a love of his. Through his involvement with Rotary and Dale Carnegie he and his wife, Nancy, traveled many times to Europe, Japan and Australia.
Although his roots were always in Hawaii, he started a life-long love for Oregon while attending college in Ashland. Jim played competitive tennis in high school and college, then golf took over his interest. He and Nancy both became members of the Rotary Club of Keizer when they retired and moved to Keizer, overlooking the 4th hole at the McNary Golf Club course.
Jim is survived by Nancy, his wife of 50 years, brother Jack Peterson of California, sister Barbara Browning of Indiana, brother-in-law Steve Kettelkamp of Missouri as well as many cousins, nieces and nephews.
The family would like to say thank you to Kaiser Permanente and DaVita Dialysis for the excellent care Jim received. And to Keizer Funeral Chapel for their assistance.
Plans for a Celebration of Life service in Honolulu this summer are pending.
