Obituary: Quann, C. James
Age 82
Jim was born April 4, 1933 in Cle Elum, Washington to James A. and Grace M. Quann, graduated from high school in Hartline, WA in 1950 and Washington State University in 1954.
On May 21, 1955 Jim married the love of his life, Barbara Lee Heathman, of Hartline.
He received an officer’s commission in the Army and posted to South Korea as an officer in the Infantry.
Following military service, Jim returned to WSU to earn a master’s degree and later his doctorate.
Quann is survived by his wife Barbara, three grown children and six grandchildren.
For all his professional accomplishments, Jim was better known as a loving father, grandfather, mentor, and friend to many.
Jim, known as Papa to his six grandchildren, was our dream of what a grandfather should be.
Their time with Papa revolved around the beloved family lake cabin on Cave Bay on Lake Coeur d’Alene.
There, he taught his grandchildren to fish, operate a small boat, hunt for amazing polished rocks hidden in the shallow lake shore, water ski using the same old boards that he first pulled his kids on in the 1960s, build campfires (only if there was no fire danger!
), make s’mores and tell stories of our family past.
As the grandchildren grew older and played in the lake on their own, Papa could be counted on to patrol from the deck of his cabin, constantly counting heads to be sure no one vanished from sight.
Jim served higher education for more than 42 years with faculty and administrative positions at four universities in three states.
Jim’s passion for education influenced his entire family and many dear friends.
In retirement, he held the titles of WSU Registrar Emeritus and Coordinator, Veterans Research.
He is a Korean Veteran (34th Infantry, 24th Division) and the founder of the WSU Veterans Memorial, initially built and dedicated in 1993 and completed in 2000.
The memorial honors all WSU Veterans, including the 400-plus who were killed or missing in action in WWII, Korea, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf Wars.
Jim is the author of several books and many articles published in professional journals.
His major book, “WSU Military Veterans: Heroes and Legends”, followed by seven companion publications, all detailing the lives and heroism of military veterans.
Quann dedicated his life to the service of family, students, faculty, church, and WSU Alumni veterans.
He was a member of the American Legion, the Washington Association of Wheat Growers, WSU Cougars of the Desert, and the American Association of Collegiate Registrars & Admissions Officers, from whom he was awarded the AACRAO Distinguished Service Award in 1971.
Quann was preceded in death by his youngest son, Marty, his parents, his sister Kathleen and brother Tom.
He is survived by his wife Barbara in Spokane; son James Mark of Vancouver, WA; son Michael Richard and wife Diane of Spokane; daughter Maria Bliss and husband John of Mercer Island, WA; sister Margaret Jernberg of Seattle, and sister-in-law Mary of Puyallup; brother-in-law Donald Thompson of Coulee City; and six grandchildren Kelsey Woolsey, Amber Quann, Alex Quann, Hannah Bliss, Sam Bliss, and Andy Bliss, and many nieces and nephews.
Memorial contributions in Jim’s honor may be made to the Jim and Barbara Quann Endowed Scholarship Fund through the WSU Foundation.
To view Jim’s online memorial, please visit www.hennesseyfuneralhomes.com.
Services: Thursday, May, 28th., 7pm Rosary, Our Lady of Fatima Parish, Spokane WA.
Friday, May 29th.,11am Funeral, St. Thomas More Chapel and Catholic Newman Center, Pullman, WA.
Saturday, May 30th., 11am Graveside, Hartline Cemetery.