Final Salute

January 24 1944 September 07 2020
JAMES R. SVETZ January 24, 1944 – September 07, 2020 Share this obituary View/Sign Guestbook| Send Sympathy Card JAMES R. SVETZ, age 76, beloved husband of Barbara (nee Meyers); son of the late Adele (nee Chlebisch) and Andrew; brother of Robert (deceased) (Greta), Thomas (Martha), Frank (Kathy), Christine “Tina” Kuhn (Charles), Lois Stofan (Ronald), Hazel (deceased) and Andrew (deceased) (Toni); uncle and great-uncle of many. Jim was a proud graduate of West High School Class of 1962. He married Barbara Meyers, the love of his life, in 1964. They celebrated 56 years together this past March. He followed his family’s tradition as a tradesman and became a union Local 17 Ironworker. Jim joined the Navy as a SeaBee in 1968 and was stationed in Port Hueneme, California. Barb moved to Oxnard Shores to support Jim while he served in VietNam. This was when Jim adopted his first cat Josephine. They would go on to have 5 others through the years. In 1971 they moved back to Ohio ultimately living most of their lives in North Olmsted. Jim worked with Local 17 until his retirement in 2000. He took great pride in working on Jacobs Field and the BP Building in downtown Cleveland. Barb and Jim enjoyed many trips to Minnesota and many other states in recent years. Jimmy’s passion was always baseball, from playing sandlot as a young boy to skipping school to go to Municipal Stadium to watch his beloved Cleveland Indians. They were a source of daily joy. He had a great memory. His storytelling and attention to detail were like no other. His laugh was infectious. He will be especially missed by his niece Sheila who loved him so dearly and his best friend Jimmy Dietz. Passed away unexpectedly September 7, 2020. Funeral Service Friday, September 11, at 1 P.M. in the CHAMBERS FUNERAL HOME of NORTH OLMSTED, 29150 LORAIN RD. AT STEARNS RD., where social distancing will be observed and face masks required and where friends may call THURSDAY 1 – 4 P.M. AND FRIDAY ONE HOUR PRIOR TO SERVICE. Interment Sunset Memorial Park. Memorial contributions are suggested to the ASPCA at aspca.org. PLEASE NOTE THAT DUE TO THE CURRENT COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE WILL BE FOLLOWING THE CDC’S GUIDELINES FOR LARGE GATHERINGS AND MONITORING THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE FACILITY AT ONE TIME. PLEASE PLAN YOUR VISIT ACCORDINGLY AS YOU MAY BE ASKED TO WAIT BEFORE ENTERING THE FACILITY. FACE MASKS ARE REQUIRED TO BE WORN. SERVICES Visitation Thursday, September 10, 2020 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM Chambers Funeral Homes (North Olmsted) 29150 Lorain Rd. North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 Get Directions on Google Maps Visitation Friday, September 11, 2020 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Chambers Funeral Homes (North Olmsted) 29150 Lorain Rd. North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 Get Directions on Google Maps Funeral Service Friday, September 11, 2020 1:00 PM Chambers Funeral Homes (North Olmsted) 29150 Lorain Rd. North Olmsted, Ohio 44070 Get Directions on Google Maps Print Obituary