July 28, 1951 – March 1, 2020
James (Jim) Lynn Kudrna, 68, passed away on March 1, 2020. He was born and raised in Omaha, NE to parents James Joseph and Patsy Ann Chandler Kudrna. He was married to Jolene (Armbrust) Kudrna for 41 years, and they had two children, Casey and McKenzie.
Jim attended the University of Nebraska earning both a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Architecture. He began his career with HDR in Omaha, and then taught for more than 30 years at the University of Oklahoma. After retiring from OU in 2008, Jim worked and consulted for GH2 Architects in Norman and Tulsa. In 2016, he and Jolene moved to Portland, OR, to be closer to their daughter and fulfill a lifelong dream of living in the Pacific Northwest.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, James. He is survived by his wife, Jolene of Portland, OR, his mother, Patsy of Omaha, NE, his sister Kim Kohl and her husband John of Omaha, NE, his daughter McKenzie of Portland, OR, his son Casey, daughter in law Kinsey, and grandchildren Karsen and Carter of Overland Park, KS, and many other family members.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Jim’s name to the ALS Association of Oregon located at 700 NE Multnomah St, Suite 210, Portland, OR 97232.
The memorial service and reception planned for Monday, March 30, 2020, in Norman, OK, has been postponed until further notice.
Gibbs College of Architecture is proud to recognize Petya Stefanoff, who is pursuing her doctorate in the Planning, Design & Construction (PDC) program, has been appointed the new role of Director of Community Development for the City of Shawnee, Oklahoma. She joined the city in 2024.
Gibbs College of Architecture is pleased to announce that Amber N. Wiley, Ph.D., associate professor in the Division of Planning, Landscape Architecture and Design and director of the Institute for Quality Communities, has received national recognition for her book Model Schools in the Model City. The book has been named a finalist for the 2026 the PROSE Awards.
Gibbs College of Architecture Regional + City Planning Professor of Practice Vanessa Morrison and Associate Professor of Architecture Deborah Richards’ Open Design Collective received top honors at the inaugural BlackSpace Urbanist Collective Studio KIN Pitch Night Competition, held last month in Brooklyn, New York City.
