James Arthur (Jim) Kutzli, 82, of Lake Park, died on Friday, November 21, 2025, at Fellowship Home in Valdosta. Born in Tallahassee, Florida to the late Walter (Sarge) & Martha Williford Kutzli on September 4, 1943. He moved to Bemiss, GA as a young boy when his father was stationed at Moody Air Force Base. Growing up in Lowndes County he attended Pine Grove Elementary and Hahira High School where he played football for the Hahira Tigers. After high school, he then went to Valdosta State College where he met the former Eva Ladrow. They started dating and were married in 1963 in Valdosta at Forrest St Methodist Church. After college, Jim started working at Georgia Power Company. Then in October of 1972, Eva and their oldest son Joseph were tragically killed in an automobile accident. Jim and his young daughter Sena moved to Athens, where Jim worked with his brother-in-law Brinson Lane at Yamaha Motorcycle Shop. During his younger days, Jim developed a love for fast motorcycles and fast cars, especially his 1971 yellow Porshe 911. Jim soon moved the family back to Lake Park in the late 1970’s and started working at Bath Craft in Valdosta. At Bath Craft, Jim worked as a chemist and a Safety Officer and then retired in 2016 with over 30 years of experience. Jim had a group of dear friends including Jim Hansen and Lee Allison that referred to each other as the “Bob family”. They enjoyed getting together and talking about fast cars and motorcycles and taking fun road trips together. Jim was an avid collector of antiques and greatly enjoyed looking for bargains with his longtime special friend Patricia Hall. Jim also greatly enjoyed his family, Sena, Jim, Katie and their families. Jim loved to fish on Dykes Pond and watch Georgia football games especially with his son Jim. Jim enjoyed sharing and gifting his many collectibles with his daughter Sena and his daughter Katie and his grandchildren too. Jim will be remembered by many for his infectious smile, his contagious laugh and his love for people. He greatly enjoyed helping others with any handy man project or need they might have.

Survivors include his devoted companion of 28 years, Patricia Hall of Lake Park, three children and their spouses, Sena & David Pike of Lakeland, Jim & Tara Kutzli of St. Petersburg, FL, and Katie & James King of Augusta; five grandchildren, Eva Marie (Bryce) Boruff of Ray City, J.D. Pike of Lake Park, Luka Kutzli of St. Peterburg, Matthew King and Hank King of Augusta. Also surviving are two sisters and brothers in law, Sena & Brinson Lane of Athens and Kathy & Daniel Jaimes of Newnan, and several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his first wife Eva and his son Joseph Kutzli. He is also preceded in death by special friends Pete and Julie Berard.

A funeral for Jim will be held at 11 am on Monday, November 24, 2025, at the River Pavilion at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. Pastor Austin DeLoach will officiate. Burial will follow at McLane Riverview Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the Pavilion on Monday from 10 am until service time. Condolences may be conveyed to the family here on the obituary page of www.mclanecares.com Carson McLane Funeral Home.