James F DeClerck

James F. DeClerck, 84, passed away on Friday, November 3, 2023 after a brief illness in Huntington Beach, CA with the love of his life, Uta, by his side.

James "Jim" DeClerck was born in Rochester, NY August 15, 1939, the first of four children of Francis Emil DeClerck and Irma Dettman DeClerck.

Jim grew up in Rochester, NY and throughout his childhood his family spent many weekends enjoying time at their cottage on Canandaigua Lake, a place that impacted him deeply and would be a constant the rest of his life.

Jim graduated from Aquinas High School in Rochester in 1957, continued his studies at John Carroll University in Ohio where he joined the Army ROTC, majored in Business Administration and graduated with a Bachelor's degree in 1961. For the next four years he was an active-duty officer with the U.S. Army stationed at a base in Mannheim, Germany where in 1964 he met his future wife, Uta Christine Thieme. After his required active-duty service, Jim was transferred back to the U.S but a flame had been lit in the hearts of Jim and Uta.

Shortly after arriving back in the U.S., Jim landed a position in the logistics division with Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester. Uta soon joined Jim in America and in 1968 they married, welcoming their first daughter, Kirstin Faye, into their lives one year later. A few months after the arrival of their second child, Genevieve Anne in 1972, Kodak delivered news to Jim that his expertise would be required in California. The family moved west and soon grew roots.

Following sage advice from a friend, Jim and Uta decided to buy their first residential rental property which would mark the founding of an enterprise they would together build brick by brick for the next forty years. Around the same period of time Jim was introduced to an old dude ranch in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. 7C Ranch would become a fixture and he enjoyed time camping and adventuring there for many years to come, with his final visit there with Uta in October.

Travel and visiting far-off places was something Jim always enjoyed. Just before his retirement from Kodak he was transferred to Xiamen, China for three years to manage logistics at a newly built distribution center. He and Uta lived and adventured in China and while there they were able to cross other destinations in Asia, Oceania and Africa off of their travel bucket list.

Jim had an incredibly strong work ethic, never calling in sick in all his years employed at Kodak. In 2006 he commenced his well-earned retirement from Kodak. By this time Jim had also retired from the U.S. Army Reserve having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He proudly served his country for thirty-seven years.

Jim enjoyed retired life in Huntington Beach, CA, but the busyness did not stop! Along with a rather substantial amount of property management work, Jim found time for lots of adventures and activities including the restoration of a 1974 Jensen Healey sports car, sailing excursions on the Pacific with friends at the American Legion Newport Beach Yacht Club, going to the shooting range to practice his remarkable aim, mixing cocktails and sharing stories with friends and family, frequent trips to 7C Ranch in the Sierra, and annual trips to the family cottage on Canandaigua Lake were all things that brought Jim a lot of happiness.

Jim is predeceased by his parents Francis Emil and Irma Dettman DeClerck, mother- and father-in-law Kurt and Irmgard Thieme, and brother-in-law Klaus Thieme. Left behind to cherish his memory are his wife Uta Christine DeClerck, two daughters, Kirstin (Matthew) Miller of Bethel Park, PA, and Genevieve (Hugh) in Freeville, NY. He also leaves behind brother Thomas (Aili), sister Judith, brother Lawrence (Barbara), and sister-in-law Frigga (Udo) Holzner, three grandchildren, Mason (Jordan), Zachary (Alexandra), and Corinne Miller, and nephews Jeff and Ryan DeClerck, Keith and Graham Poole and their families.

There are no immediate memorial services planned but gatherings in New York State and California will be arranged to celebrate Jim's life on future dates to be announced.

Contributions in honor of James F. DeClerck may be made to The American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291 (AL291.com).