James Dean Saltkill

James Dean Saltkill, 69, of Wichita, Kansas, died on May 15, 2026, at Wesley Medical Center after a sudden illness. His final moments were peaceful-he was kept comfortable, surrounded by family, and The Beatles' Let It Be played as he passed.

He is survived by his mother, Virginia (Stone) Saltkill of Andover, Kansas; sister, Doris Saltkill (David Cantwell) of Kansas City, Missouri; brother, Lonnie Saltkill of Wichita, Kansas; daughter, Jamie (Saltkill) Zandman (Aaron Zandman) of Richmond, Virginia; and granddaughters, Iris and Hazel Zandman. He is also survived by his wife, Diane Charboneau of Wichita, Kansas, and her adult children, Kristi and Justin.

He is preceded in death by his father, Clifford Leon "Salty" Saltkill of Greenwich, Kansas; aunt and uncle, Vivian (Foster) and Stanley Benson of Augusta, Kansas; cousin, Rhonda (Benson) Gephardt of Augusta, Kansas; and wife, Gail McKay of Rose Hill, Kansas.

James was born May 1, 1957, in Greene County, Missouri, grew up in Greenwich, Kansas, and spent most of his adult life in the Wichita area. He worked most of his career as a painter in aircraft manufacturing at Boeing and Cessna, retiring in 2024.

He was laid back, funny in a dry, sarcastic (and often smart-ass!) way, with a hearty laugh. He had a natural mechanical mind and an instinctive understanding of how things worked, even without formal training. In his younger years, he enjoyed drag racing and working on cars. Later in life, he spent his spare time woodworking, fishing, grilling, and watching NASCAR. Music was always part of his life, especially classic rock-he liked it loud when he could get away with it, from the Beatles, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, the Rolling Stones, to Billy Joel.

Friends and family meant a lot to him, even across distance. He was thrilled to become "Grandpa James" in 2023 and again in 2025, to beloved granddaughters Iris and Hazel. He and late wife Gail McKay hosted huge Fourth of July gatherings that people still talk about. He spent the last 14 years of his life with his loving wife, Diane, and their cats and dogs.

James will be cremated, with his ashes interred at Greenwich Cemetery outside Wichita, laid to rest near his father and other family members. A small graveside service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 30, 2026.

He will be deeply missed by those who knew and loved him, and remembered more than he probably would have ever expected.