James L. “Jim” Cieslar, 81, of McAlisterville died at 4:53 p.m. on Wednesday, January 21, 2015, at his home, after a long and courageous battle with Pulmonary Fibrosis.
Born on June 17, 1933, in Toledo, Ohio, he was a son of the late Michael A. and Rosella (James) Cieslar. On September 17, 1954, he married his surviving wife, Mary Anne “Anne” (Nace) Cieslar, with whom he shared more than 60 years of marriage.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughters, Roxanne Konkel and her husband Dennis, of Camp Hill, Bonnie Kueffner and her husband Fred, of Longmont, Colo.; sisters, Dorothy Johnson, Shirley Haag, both of Florida, Gladys Cowfer, of Pennsylvania, and his grandchildren, Orion Kueffner, Sage Kueffner, Ivy Kueffner and AnnElizabeth Konkel.
He was preceded in death by a grandson, Liam Kueffner and a brother John Cieslar.
Mr. Cieslar was a 1952 graduate of Phillipsburg Area High School and an active member of Brown’s United Methodist Church, McAlisterville, where he sang in the choir, served as church treasurer and as a lay leader. He also served on the board of directors for the Hillside Cemetery and of the Lost Creek Health Services board.
He was a veteran of the U.S. Army serving in Alaska during the Korean Conflict.
For 24 years, Jim worked as a mechanic and heavy equipment operator for Hempt Brothers, of Camp Hill and later for Stablers Construction, of Winfield, until retiring in 1998.
Jim loved fixing things and had a passion for doing yard work.
A funeral will be held at 11:30 a.m. Monday, January 26, 2015, from the Brown’s United Methodist Church, McAlisterville with Rev. Candace Arnold officiating, where full military burial honors will be accorded by the Juniata County Veterans Council. Interment will follow in the Hillside Cemetery, McAlisterville.
Viewing will be held from 4 - 8 p.m. on Sunday, January 25, 2015 with the family present from 6 – 8 p.m. at the Brown Funeral Homes Inc., 111 Westfall St., McAlisterville.
For those who wish, memorial contributions in Mr. Cieslar’s memory may be made to Brown’s United Methodist Church, 33401 Route 35 North, McAlisterville, PA 17049 or to Sun Home Health Hospice, 61 Duke St., P.O. Box 232, Northumberland, PA 17857.