James Frederick "Jim" Kierstead

1952 - 2016

We're saddened to announce that James Frederick "Jim" Kierstead died in an accident at his home in Windsor, Massachusetts.

Jim was born May 4, 1952, in Washington D.C., and was raised in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Isabel Bird Kierstead, his father, Friend Hans Kierstead Jr., and sister Dorothygrace Bird Kierstead Kelley. He is survived by his sister, Margaret Rose "Margie" Kierstead, and nephew, Peter Hans Kierstead, of Kent, Ohio, as well as many cousins.

Jim studied music at Ohio University and the University of Massachusetts, where he played in the marching band. But his love of marching bands started at Cuyahoga Falls High School. After college he continued to play in the University of Massachusetts Minuteman Marching Band, for a total of 39 years. He also played in the Pride Alumni Marching Band of Cuyahoga Falls, at times with his sister Margie, in the yearly Cuyahoga Falls Band Show. Many times he won the award for having traveled the furthest in order to participate -which was a point of personal pride.

Jim started his employment with the University of Massachusetts after his college studies. He worked in many offices of the university, including the Cooperative Extension Division of Nutrition, now part of the Center for Agriculture, Food, and the Environment. He ended his employment at the university in 2006 as a bookkeeper for the Dean of the School of Public Health and Health Sciences. He also worked, at times, in the Textbook Annex and helped out the UMass Marching Band as a drill assistant.

Jim's public service was demonstrated in his activities in his home town of Windsor, Mass. He was an active member of the Windsor Historical Commission and Cultural Council. He was the elected Town Moderator (who runs the town meetings) since 2012, and had served as a Town Assessor. He was the unofficial town historian, as he had a wealth of Windsor historical knowledge and was always willing to share.

Jim was an animal lover and is survived by his cats Storm and Thunder. Jim took pride in knowing family genealogy, as well as the stories of peoples' lives, and even traveled around to photograph family graves in order to preserve the memory of the past. He was also an avid sports fan and delighted in science fiction. Jim lived life to the fullest and was taken too soon. Each year, when he left Ohio, he'd give a cheery, "Until next year!"

There will be a private graveside service in Massachusetts.

Memorial services are being planned in Massachusetts and Ohio. Bartlett-Wellington Funeral Home, 525 Main St. Dalton, MA, is in charge of arrangements.

To sign a Guest Book, express condolences, share memories and read other obituaries, go to legacy.com/obituaries/gazettenet.