James R. Fenstermacher

TREVORTON - James R. Fenstermacher, 58, of 150 W. Coal Street, passed away on Friday, May 15, 2009, at his residence due to ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease).
He was born Nov. 3, 1950, in Sunbury, a son of the late James Robert and Madeline Roselle (Mottern) Fenstermacher. Jim was married on July 8, 1972, in Trevorton United Methodist Church to the former Karen A. Keiffer, who survives.
He graduated in 1968 from Shikellamy High School, a 1975 graduate of Wilkes-Barre Business College, and was a veteran of the Navy.
Jim was an accountant at Northumberland County Home from 1975 to 1977, a Class Cabinet maker at Young Door, Sunbury, from 1977 to 1995, and a Corrections Officer at (SCI) State Correctional Institute, Coal Township, from 1995 to 2006.
He was a member of Trevorton United Methodist Church, a life member of the Zerbe Rod and Gun Club and was an officer for nine years, and a member of the Keystone Fish and Game Club. Jim earned a Black Belt in Isshin Ryu Karate with his son Dustin at Penn State University.
Jim umpired and coached Little League baseball in Trevorton and Sunbury and coached in Shamokin Youth basketball. He was instrumental in helping to organize AYSO in the Line Mountain district and served as president of the Line Mountain Soccer Boosters.
Jim will be remembered as a devoted and loving husband and father who treasured his family. He was a lifelong fan of the Dodgers, Colts and Penn State Football. An avid outdoorsman and sportsman, his enthusiasm for nature was limitless. He will be dearly missed for his infectious laughter and warmth, humor, and never-ending stories he provided and entertained many with over the years. His wife and children consider themselves to be very blessed for the time they had with Jim and thank him for enriching their lives and teaching them the true meaning of courage.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one daughter, Tara Fenstermacher of Sunbury; one son, Dustin Fenstermacher of Philadelphia; two sisters and brothers-in-law, Pat and Bob Wetzel of Lancaster and Linda and Joe Hager of Northumberland; sisters in-laws and brothers-in-law, Elaine and Don Wolfe and Kathy and Jeff Keiffer, all of Trevorton; and aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
A viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Robert G. Foust Jr. Funeral Home, 841 W. Shamokin St., Trevorton, followed by a funeral service at 11, with the Rev. Richard Sweppenhiser, officiating.
Burial will be in Odd Fellows Cemetery, Coal Township.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in Jim's memory to ALS Assoc., 321 Norristown Road, Suite 260, Ambler, PA 19002, or Hunt of a Lifetime, P.O. Box 241, Harborcreek, PA 16421.