Obituary of James Weber

JAMES R. WEBER 1942 - 2013 Jim passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at St. Mary's General Hospital on Saturday afternoon, November 9th, 2013, after a brief case of pneumonia and a 34-year struggle with multiple sclerosis. Though as a young man, Jim's accomplishments as an athlete were astonishing, in life he took greatest pride in his work as a teacher at KCI for three decades, and in his parenting. For Jim, teaching was a true vocation - one for which he was recognized in 1988 with the Stewart Award for Teaching Excellence. Jim's family members took great pleasure and pride in the dozens upon dozens of encounters they have enjoyed over the years with former students who speak of the important, supportive, and transformational role Jim played in their lives. He is remembered, loved, and admired by his wife, Brenda (Good) Weber, his children, Mark and his wife Sheri Wideman, Linda and her husband Chris Javornik, and Sara and her husband Ben Wright, and by his grandchildren Isaac, Kathryn, Rachel, Erika, Anthony and Lily. He is also fondly remembered by his brothers, Ross and his wife Carol of Kitchener and John Butterfield and his wife Betty of Canyon, Texas and their families, the family of his brother John, as well as Brenda's family, Clive and Elaine Good, Carolyn and Freeman Roth, and their children. He was predeceased by his parents Loraine (Snyder) and Alson Weber, his brother John Weber and sister-in-law Donna Weber and his parents in-law Gordon Good and Florence (Smith) Good. Jim was a life-long member of Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, where he was a positive and encouraging presence for ministers, friends, and generations of young people. By example, Jim taught his children and all who knew him to face adversity with courage, to take pleasure in relationships, to strive for excellence, to encourage generously, to question actively, to champion justice always, and to take joy in life. The refrain of one of his favourite hymns ended "How can I keep from singing?" Friends are invited to share their memories of Jim with his family at the Erb & Good Family Funeral Home, 171 King Street South, Waterloo, on Tuesday, November 12, from 2 pm to 4 pm, and 7 pm to 9 pm. The funeral service to celebrate Jim's life will be held at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church, 57 Stirling Avenue North, Kitchener, on Wednesday, November 13, at 11 am, with Rev. Renee Sauder officiating. Immediately following the service, friends and relatives are invited to join the family in the fellowship hall of the church for refreshments and a time to visit. Following the reception, there will be a committal service at Parkview Cemetery in Waterloo for family and friends who wish to attend. Condolences for the family and donations to the Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada, would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy and may be arranged through the funeral home, www.erbgood.com or 519.745.8445