Jim (James Dykstra Cunningham) started his journey on October 11, 1931. He was the 4th child born to the family of Richard D. and Florence Dykstra Cunningham. His brothers, Moon and Bob, and his sister, Kathy, were his older siblings. They lived in a house near Sloan's Lake in Denver. Jim's Parents and brothers have finished their journeys, and now Jim has joined them.
Jim attended schools near their home and was a great student, academically, musically and sports. He graduated from North High School in 1949.
It has been an obvious deduction to make after looking at pictures of Jim in his early days that he loved animals. He has told many stories about the dogs he had while growing up and also about a squirrel that used to come to the screen and request food.
Because they lived near Sloan's Lake, he learned to enjoy fishing. He really expanded on that love as he became an adult. There were other activities that were water-related that he enjoyed including water skiing.
Jim went into the military after high school and was schooled in airplane mechanics. In his older years he was able to identify the type of engine on airplanes that would be flying over. He had many stories to tell from his experiences while at bases in Illinois and New Mexico. One of the most profound experiences was his participation in the atomic bomb test experience in Nevada 1952. He loved to tell the story of his sharing the trench that the soldiers were in with a tarantula spider. They all survived.
After returning from the military, Jim became involved with University of Colorado. He majored in mechanical engineering and graduated in 1956.
Jim worked at various local enterprises including Ball Brothers as an engineer, University of Colorado as a professor, and at LSAP (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics) associated with the University of Colorado. He had many interesting stories about his experiences and used technical terms that most of us did not understand. He was a very proficient person in all of the positions he had during his tour with them.
In 1972 he came up with a unique idea about how to design an electric nail gun. The basic concept was with counter-rotating flywheels that propelled a ram to hit the nail on the head. He obtained a patent on the concept and worked very hard to get the product idea placed with a proper enterprise to get it into the marketplace. He had many contacts with Duo-Fast Nailers, but they did not come to meeting terms to make it happen.
Jim left the University employment and started his own corporation, JBD Corporation, in order to further the concept of "counter-rotating flywheels" and produce a larger version of hammers. Hence, the tools were designed and prototypes were built to carry out the design. He had a great group of people that put the ideas into reality and there was hope that he would have become successful with getting those into the marketplace. He spent several years at trying to get it accomplished, but did not get his dream answered.
Meanwhile in his personal life, Jim was introduced to Bernie Eck by Paul and Judy Bay. That was June 30, 1973. It was a good match, and they were married December 28, 1973 (in time to file income taxes together). With Bernie, came a son, Andrew (Andy) Eck, and a daughter, Anne Marie Eck.
Jim had a 5th wheel camper and "old yeller" truck. There were lots of adventures with that setup and he showed the family some pretty cool places. They went to Seattle to visit Uncle Ray and it was during the gas crisis. That mad the adventure even "more" adventuresome by wondering where to buy gas when it would be needed.
Jim always loved animals. Once there were 4 dogs and 1 cat in the household. During that time they went on trips to various locations which made some very unique memories. Jacque (dog) and Sam (cat) were first ones. Winnie (dog), Pooh (cat) and Tigger (dog) were next. Then came Angie and one of her pups, Otsie. Mewbers was next. Bear (dog) was a stray that adopted Jim when he showed up at the JBD shop. Bubba was the last dog to be in the household. There were no indoor pets after Bubba, but Shama who lives next door adopted Jim and she still comes over and looks for him in the house.
Andy and Anne grew up and became very fine adults. Along came granddaughters, Jessica and Hanna. Jim now had the opportunity to hold young children in his arms, but sometimes he might have both human and canine babies at the same time.
In Jim's final leg of his journey he was frustrated with his unfinished business of getting his technology on the marketplace. He eventually started reflecting on his real accomplishments of his life in the military, teaching, designing, and parenting and was more peaceful in accepting the inevitable destination of arriving at the "port of entry." He would usually say to someone: "Pax Vobiscum" which is the Latin term for "Peace be with you."
That will be a lingering, peaceful mantra for all.
Jim attended schools near their home and was a great student, academically, musically and sports. He graduated from North High School in 1949.
It has been an obvious deduction to make after looking at pictures of Jim in his early days that he loved animals. He has told many stories about the dogs he had while growing up and also about a squirrel that used to come to the screen and request food.
Because they lived near Sloan's Lake, he learned to enjoy fishing. He really expanded on that love as he became an adult. There were other activities that were water-related that he enjoyed including water skiing.
Jim went into the military after high school and was schooled in airplane mechanics. In his older years he was able to identify the type of engine on airplanes that would be flying over. He had many stories to tell from his experiences while at bases in Illinois and New Mexico. One of the most profound experiences was his participation in the atomic bomb test experience in Nevada 1952. He loved to tell the story of his sharing the trench that the soldiers were in with a tarantula spider. They all survived.
After returning from the military, Jim became involved with University of Colorado. He majored in mechanical engineering and graduated in 1956.
Jim worked at various local enterprises including Ball Brothers as an engineer, University of Colorado as a professor, and at LSAP (Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics) associated with the University of Colorado. He had many interesting stories about his experiences and used technical terms that most of us did not understand. He was a very proficient person in all of the positions he had during his tour with them.
In 1972 he came up with a unique idea about how to design an electric nail gun. The basic concept was with counter-rotating flywheels that propelled a ram to hit the nail on the head. He obtained a patent on the concept and worked very hard to get the product idea placed with a proper enterprise to get it into the marketplace. He had many contacts with Duo-Fast Nailers, but they did not come to meeting terms to make it happen.
Jim left the University employment and started his own corporation, JBD Corporation, in order to further the concept of "counter-rotating flywheels" and produce a larger version of hammers. Hence, the tools were designed and prototypes were built to carry out the design. He had a great group of people that put the ideas into reality and there was hope that he would have become successful with getting those into the marketplace. He spent several years at trying to get it accomplished, but did not get his dream answered.
Meanwhile in his personal life, Jim was introduced to Bernie Eck by Paul and Judy Bay. That was June 30, 1973. It was a good match, and they were married December 28, 1973 (in time to file income taxes together). With Bernie, came a son, Andrew (Andy) Eck, and a daughter, Anne Marie Eck.
Jim had a 5th wheel camper and "old yeller" truck. There were lots of adventures with that setup and he showed the family some pretty cool places. They went to Seattle to visit Uncle Ray and it was during the gas crisis. That mad the adventure even "more" adventuresome by wondering where to buy gas when it would be needed.
Jim always loved animals. Once there were 4 dogs and 1 cat in the household. During that time they went on trips to various locations which made some very unique memories. Jacque (dog) and Sam (cat) were first ones. Winnie (dog), Pooh (cat) and Tigger (dog) were next. Then came Angie and one of her pups, Otsie. Mewbers was next. Bear (dog) was a stray that adopted Jim when he showed up at the JBD shop. Bubba was the last dog to be in the household. There were no indoor pets after Bubba, but Shama who lives next door adopted Jim and she still comes over and looks for him in the house.
Andy and Anne grew up and became very fine adults. Along came granddaughters, Jessica and Hanna. Jim now had the opportunity to hold young children in his arms, but sometimes he might have both human and canine babies at the same time.
In Jim's final leg of his journey he was frustrated with his unfinished business of getting his technology on the marketplace. He eventually started reflecting on his real accomplishments of his life in the military, teaching, designing, and parenting and was more peaceful in accepting the inevitable destination of arriving at the "port of entry." He would usually say to someone: "Pax Vobiscum" which is the Latin term for "Peace be with you."
That will be a lingering, peaceful mantra for all.
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