James E. Kallaher, of Paducah, Kentucky passed away unexpectedly on February 3, 2025, at Baptist Health Hospital, surrounded by loving family.
Born November 16, 1940, in Louisville, Kentucky, Jim graduated from Atherton High School and the University of Louisville with a degree in chemical engineering. His industrial engineering career spanned over 30 years before retiring from industry and earning his teaching certificate. “Mr. K” taught high school chemistry and physics for several years at area schools including St. Mary and Ballard County High Schools.
Jim was an active member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church where he served in several ministries including Parish Council, Sacristan, Lector, and Eucharistic Minister. He was a 4th degree member of the Knights of Columbus and a Paducah Ambassador.
Jim was a member of the American Contract Bridge Club and earned the rank of Gold Life Master. He managed the Paducah Duplicate Bridge Club where he made numerous friends including a bridge partner who later became his wife.
Jim is survived by his loving wife of 33 years, Martha Champion Kallaher; children Lori Kallaher (Brock Shealy), Ponte Verde, Florida; Jim Kallaher (Ellen), Jacksonville, Florida; Mary Ann Kallaher (Matteo Perale), Los Angeles, California; Kari Gregory (Brian), Kansas City, Missouri; Debbie Stewart (Greg), Paducah, Kentucky; and Lori Lashgari (Cyrus), Annapolis, Maryland. His grandchildren are Lexi and Joshua Shealy, Sara and James Kallaher, Leonardo and Maddalena Perale, Caleb (Abbey) and Sam Failes, Katie Flournoy (Hank), Kelly Wilson (Mack), and Ryan and Alex Lashgari.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, James and Hardene Kallaher, his brother, Thomas Kallaher, former wife, Shirley Martin Kallaher, and Richard Usry and John Wurtz, brothers-in-law.
Jim will be remembered for his fun-loving and adventurous spirit. He was the ring leader of family Texas Hold ‘Em games, a 1950s country music aficionado, and a classic movie buff who started many conversations with “I have a movie you have to see.” Jim dazzled his grandchildren with magic tricks and loved spending time with them in the swimming pool. He could be found working puzzles, binge-watching and playing along with Jeopardy on any given day. He was an avid trivia buff who played on countless area teams and confounded his family with random questions. The Kansas City Chiefs and Royals were his beloved teams and he faithfully cheered for them through the good and bad years. Most of all, Jim loved his family. He adored his wife, children, and grandchildren and for all of Jim’s varied interests, his family was his heart.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 6 from 10:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church with a funeral mass following at 12:00 p.m.
Milner & Orr Funeral Home and Cremation Services are in charge of arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the St. Vincent DePaul Society, PO Box 8433, Paducah, Kentucky, 42002, or the Paducah Duplicate Bridge Club, 1723 Kentucky Avenue, Paducah, Kentucky, 42001 in Jim’s memory.
