James C. Amberg

James C. Amberg
1949 - 2023

James Christopher Amberg, 73 years old, passed away peacefully on April 25, 2023 at his home in Eureka, Mo. He was born May 6, 1949, in Milwaukee, Wi., son of the late Harold John and Rosemary Amberg. Jim married the love of his life, Jody (Schmitz) Amberg, on April 20, 1973. Together they birthed four children and raised their family in South St. Louis and Eureka, Mo. 

Jim is survived by Jody, his loving wife of 49 years; his four children, Cooper Amberg, Noah Amberg, Cody Amberg, Katelan (Mike) Mueller; and his four beautiful grandchildren, Lidiya, Kalon, Julianna, and Josie, all of St. Louis.  

The oldest of eight siblings, Jim is also survived by his seven brothers and sisters: Eugene (Ellen) Amberg, John (Helen) Amberg, Maribeth (Tom) Rasmussen, Eileen (John) Loftus, Therese (John) Gregori, Michael (Ola) Amberg, and Philip (Barb) Amberg. 

Jim grew up in Milwaukee, Wi. and Dolton, Il., a suburb of Chicago. He attended St. Jude the Apostle Grade School in South Holland, Il. and the Servite Preparatory Seminary in Hillside, Il. In the fall of 1967, Jim moved to St. Louis to begin studies at Saint Louis University where he completed a bachelor’s degree in sociology in 1971. 

Upon graduation, Jim accepted a teaching position at St. Barnabas Grade School in O’Fallon, Mo., where he served as a 4th grade teacher for a brief period. Soon after, he pursued a different career path in the field of social work. From 1973 to 1977, he was employed by the Missouri Department of Social Services, serving the welfare of children and families. 

In 1978, Jody’s father invited Jim to join his business, MSB Associates, based in Kansas City, Mo., and this launched Jim into a successful career as a manufacturer’s representative in the electronics field. As the St. Louis territory rep, Jim became well-known far and wide for his humor, audaciousness, and above all, his concern for others. 

Family, friends, business associates and even strangers loved Jim for his outrageousness, his kindness, warmth, attention to others, and love for people. He was known in Al-Anon as “the couch.”  His hobbies were Jody, his children, his grandchildren, family, and friends, and of course basketball and his beloved SLU Billikens. He was Jody’s quilt consultant and advisor: “It needs more red.” And he was absolutely right.  

In 2018, Jim was diagnosed with dementia. The following year, he was bitten by a lone star tick and developed ehrlichiosis. It developed into sepsis, almost killing him. Some believe the tick bite in 2019 catapulted his journey into Alzheimer’s Disease. Jim’s behaviors, thought processes, and mobility were severely affected, yet his sweet and gentle spirit was still present. He was authentic in every way, and this impacted everyone who met and knew him. Jim’s body was donated to Washington University to assist in the research for a cure for this disabling disease. 

Services: A celebration of Jim’s life will take place on July 16, 2023, 12-3 p.m., at the Third Degree Glass Factory in St. Louis. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association. As a service of the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, friends may sign the family's on-line guestbook at Schrader.com.