Christopher Siems

Christopher Siems, 71, of St. Augustine, Florida, and formerly of Green Township, New Jersey, passed away peacefully, under hospice care in Green Cove Springs, Florida, on May 16, 2016. He was born on May 24, 1944, in Kearney, Nebraska, and spent his younger years in Livingston, New Jersey, before moving to Green Township, New Jersey, where he graduated from Newton High School in 1963. After graduation, he attended Trinidad College in Trinidad, Colorado. Returning to New Jersey, Chris lived in Stanhope, New Jersey, and was a welder for the Westinghouse Moveable Stair Division in Succasunna, New Jersey. Heeding the call of the open road, Chris became an over the road tractor trailer driver for about 10 years. During the many years he spent in New Jersey, he was a volunteer for the Stanhope Fire Department. Fulfilling that part of his life, he moved to St. Augustine, Florida, where he joined the Merchant Marine, sailing the waters of the world until his retirement. After Chris retired, he joined a pirate re-enactment group in St. Augustine, where he spent much of his time with fellow re-enactors, entertaining the thousands of tourists visiting America's Oldest City.
He is predeceased by his parents, Frederick L. Siems Sr. of Green Township, New Jersey, and Mildred Lee of St. Augustine, Florida. He is survived by his daughter, Kristin Whittaker and her husband, Timothy, of Middletown, Connecticut; and grandchildren, Evan and Teagan; brother, Fred Siems and his wife, Jane, of Brantingham, New York, and The Villages, Florida; sisters, Barbara Rickerts of St. Augustine, Florida; and Carol Butterfield and husband, Michael, of St. Augustine, Florida; nieces Jennifer Butterfield and Karin Siems Emerick; and nephews Rick Siems and Shane Braunberg.
There will be no calling hours, and private services will be held at a later date.