Cover photo for James J. "Jim" Petzen's Obituary
James J. "Jim" Petzen Profile Photo
1935 James 2014

James J. "Jim" Petzen

April 12, 1935 — September 27, 2014

James J. “Jim” Petzen

SHINGLEHOUSE, PA---After a three year battle with Multiple Myeloma, James J. “Jim” Petzen, 79, of Shinglehouse, PA passed on to be with his Holy Father and some of his beloved family at his home on Saturday, September 27, 2014.  At his release, he was surrounded by his surviving family members.
     Jim was born April 12, 1934 in Manhattan, NY to John and Gertrude Petzen, one of their five children.  Only his sister, Alice Kidd, Shinglehouse, survives.
     He graduated from Goshen, NY High School in 1952.  He went to Fredonia State University as a vocal major, later transferring to High School Earth Science teaching.  There he met and in 1956, married Donna M. Case of Bolivar, NY.  The couple parented four children: Stephen J. Petzen, deceased, (Joan) of Cuba, NY; Michael Petzen of Lakeland, Florida; Tonya (Steve) Reiner of Shinglehouse; and Liselle (Rich) Esposito of Shinglehouse.
     While raising his family, Jim built his own house, fulfilled his 4 year NSF Science grant at Colgate University for a masters and farmed with Polled Herefords.  His Earth Science teaching assignments were: M.J. Ryan School, Lewis Run, PA for two years; Richburg Central School, Richburg, NY for six years; Wellsville Central, Wellsville, NY for 26 years; and GED in the evenings at BOCES, Belmont, NY for six years.
     He is survived by his loving wife of 58 years; his three precious children; and nine beloved grandchildren, Austin and Mason Petzen; Jamie, Rachel, Matt, Leah, and Hannah Reiner; and Marcus and Dominic Esposito; plus eight great-grandchildren.
     Mr. Petzen will be honored at a memorial service at a future date at St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, Shinglehouse.
     Flowers are gratefully declined.  Memorials in Jim’s name may be made to St. Theresa Roman Catholic Church, PO Box 277, Shinglehouse, PA 16748 or to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org.
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