Pastor James Edward "Jim" Baseler

Pastor James 'Jim' Edward Baseler, 78, of Toms Brook, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at Greenfield Reflections of Woodstock. He was preceded in death by his parents, Rev George Edward and Ruth Mardorf Baseler, his sister, Dorthy 'Dottie' Carvalho and nephew Eric Carvalho.

Jim was born on October 21, 1946, in Bloomington, Illinois. He graduated from Lowell High School, San Francisco, CA, Wartburg College, Waverly, Iowa and Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary, Berkeley, CA. His internship was in Hickory, North Carolina with Pastor Albert Keck. Pastor Jim was called to serve at Bethel Lutheran Church, Manassas, Toms Brook Lutheran Parish, Hebron Lutheran Church, Madison and Mt Olive Lutheran Parish.

Jim, as a left hander, always said he was in his right mind. He was creative as a musician, singer and artist. His mother used to say he was going to be an architect or a minister as he was always drawing churches. He sang in many church choirs with his first solo in 2nd grade in Clinton, Iowa and also sang with the San Francisco Boys Chorus and appeared once on the Ed Sullivan Show, All City Choir in high school, The Castle Singers at Warburg College, Manassas Choral Society, Madison Choral Society, Oratorial Society of Charlottesville and Masterworks Choir of the Shenandoah Valley. Jim, along with Lutheran Pastors Scott Benson, Terry Edwards and Jeff Marble organized the Bluegrass Gospel Group "The Kingdom Stompers" which spread the gospel for 9 years throughout the valley. They also wrote the "Bluegrass Mass" which is still being used at Emanuel Lutheran Church. Jim has played and sang at numerous nursing homes and events of all kinds in and around the Shenandoah Valley. Pastor Jim said, "I hope and pray that my music has brought Joy to many a heart."

Pastor Jim is survived by his loving and devoted wife, Peggy Ann of 38 years, brother Rev. John Strecker-Baseler (Rev Charlotte) Raton, New Mexico; sister Lois Baseler (Julie) Madison, Wisconsin; his son, Brooks James Baseler (Mandi) Gordensville, VA; his daughters, Elizabeth Ruth Grossman (Michael) North Canton, Ohio and Dawn Helsley Keene (Bob) Lexington, SC.; grandchildren Rebecca Grossman, Jeffrey Keene, Kaitlyn Keene and Kelsy Brazell (Dustin); great-grandchildren, Ezekiel Brazell and Roman Brazell, Cassablanca, Morocco; and many nieces and nephews.

His family will always remember his quick wit, his drawings on all their birthday cards and his guitar playing and singing funny songs. Peggy would like to thank the many family, friends, doctors, nurses and therapists who helped to keep him going as he maintained his sense of humor and his famous one liners that made us all laugh in the last 5 years as he battled Parkinson's Disease and Dementia.

Memorial contributions may be made to Emanuel Lutheran Church, 127 E High Street, Woodstock, VA and Shenandoah Valley Local Ministries, PO Box 132, Toms Brook, VA. A celebration of life service will be held sometime in August, 2025. As Pastor Jim's mantra from the Grateful Dead's song "Truckin" : "Sometimes the light is all shinning on me, Other times I can barely see, But lately, it occurs to me What a long strange trip it's been".

Arrangements are in the care of Heishman Funeral Home, Heishman Funeral Service, Woodstock.

Online condolences may be left at valleyfs.com