~ IN MEMORY ~
Military veteran, NWA Capt. Jim Kary
January 16, 1942 ~ April 24, 2026
Captain James Anthony Kary joined Northwest
Airlines 04-21-1969. Jim is survived by
his wife Diane, and by his children and their families.
To view the obituary and share memories online
please visit the funeral home website at
https://www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com/obituary/Jim-Kary
For those who may wish to send a personal note, I see
the family’s address listed in whitepages as
16310 Webster Ct, Prior Lake, MN 55372.
PCN memorial site
Jim Kary Obituary
Jim
Kary, 84, of Killdeer, ND, Prior Lake, MN, and Harrisburg, NC, passed away
peacefully on April 24, 2026. Born on January 16, 1942, in Killdeer, Dunn
County, ND, Jim is survived by his wife of 62 years, Diane Kary; his daughter
Suzy Whitt, her husband Michael, and his grandchildren Zoe and Sadie of NC; his
son Brian Kary, his wife Beth, and his grandchildren Emelia and Jakob of MN. He
is also survived by his dear sisters: Janice Miller and husband Don; Sharon
Nelson; Doreen Strom and husband Glenn; Shirley Ortman and husband Jim; Diane
Fischer and husband Tom; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins. Jim was
preceded in death by his parents and his beloved grandson Carter who we know
he’s now driving tractors with in heaven.
Jim
was raised on his family homestead in Killdeer, ND, where endless experiences
and stories of old west farm life easily equaled those in Little House on the
Prairie. After marrying Diane in 1963, he graduated from Dickinson State
College then joined the U.S. Navy in 1964, serving as an aviator and flight
instructor with a tour in Vietnam in 1966 where he flew anti-submarine patrol
in the P-3 over the Gulf of Tonkin. Jim continued flying the P-3 in the Naval
Reserves, retiring as a Commander in 1985. He lived for many years in Apple
Valley and Prior Lake, MN working as a pilot for Northwest Airlines until 2002.
Jim enjoyed a long retirement, spending his days mowing fields, tending his
horses, and driving tractors with his grandkids on his hobby farm. Jim easily
shined his brightest as a pilot and grandpa. He spent his last five years being
cared for in NC.
Jim
will be dearly missed but we’re grateful for his long life and finding peace
after dementia. The family will have a private memorial in the future. In
memorium and in lieu of flowers, please consider supporting the Alzheimer’s Association.




