James F. “Jim” Klaiber, 91, of 223 Russ Lane, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family on Saturday, August 13, 2016, at Penn Highlands Elk, after an illness of the past month.
He was born April 26, 1925, in St. Marys, son of the late Raymond and Ruth Hannibal Klaiber. He was a lifelong resident of the area and was a graduate of Central Catholic High School, Class of 1943. He was a retired tool and die maker at the Stackpole Carbon Company, retiring in 1987 after 41 years of service. He served on the St. Marys Borough Council for 20 years and served as a past president. Jim was a member of the Sacred Heart Church, where he served as an usher for over 18 years.
He served in the United States Marine Corps during WWII in the Pacific Theatre. His platoon buddy, Rene Gagnon, was one of the five Marines that raised the flag in Iwo Jima.
Jim was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He took pride in building his home and helping other family members build their homes. He spent many memorable hours with family and friends at the camp that he built with his father. Jim was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing and gardening.
On January 31, 1948, in the Sacred Heart Church, he married his loving wife of 68 years, Jeanne Hathorn, who survives. Jim is also survived by four daughters, Georgia Beyer and her husband Terry of Plainfield, IN, Ann Walker and her husband Larry of Pittsburgh, Ginny Kopko and her husband Ron of Clarion, and JoAnn Schatz and her husband Bill of St. Marys; two sons, John Klaiber and his wife Debbie of Jim Thorpe, PA and Michael Klaiber and his wife Debbie of Harrisburg; 12 grandchildren, Julie Beyer Schrock, Krista Beyer Linke, Scott Walker, Jennifer Walker Byrd, Steven Walker, Alex Kopko, Alison Kopko Kirkpatrick, Ryan Klaiber, Nicholas Wiencek, and Kyle, Doug and Bryan Schatz; eight great grandchildren; and three brothers, Raymond Klaiber and his wife Elsie, Allen Klaiber and his wife Jane, and Thomas Klaiber, all of St. Marys.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by twin children at birth, Mary Theresa and James Thomas; and by a brother, Donald Klaiber.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in the Sacred Heart Church on Tuesday, August 16, 2016, at 12:00 PM, with the Rev. Eric Vogt, OSB, Pastor, officiating. Full military rites will be accorded by the St. Marys Servicemen’s Burial Detail. Burial will follow in the St. Mary’s Cemetery.
Visitation is at the Lynch-Radkowski Funeral Home on Monday, August 15, 2016, from 5:00 until 8:00 PM.
Memorials, if desired, may be made to the Community Nurses, Inc., 757 Johnsonburg Road, Suite 200, St. Marys, PA 15857 or to the Elk County Catholic School System, Advancement Office, 600 Maurus Street, St. Marys, PA 15857.