James Berdar

It is with profound sadness that we announce the peaceful passing of James C. Berdar on April 19, 2025, at the age of 72. James passed away at the Collins House in Rocky Grove due to complications from Multiple Sclerosis. He was a lifetime resident of the Wesley area.

James was born on November 30, 1952, at the Grove City Hospital, the son of the late Simon P. Berdar and Hettie Lambert Berdar. James was a graduate of Franklin High School, Class of 1970.

James began his career as a laborer with the Laborer’s Internation Union of North America Local 323 with the Butler and Venango County offices in November of 1973. He retired due to declining health issues with his MS.

James enjoyed reading books, especially about history. He loved reading about Gettysburg, Colonial Williamsburg, Smithsonian, the Pennsylvania Magazine, Archaeology and Naval and Sea History. His hobbies included golf, bowling, fishing and some camping. He enjoyed the fishing trips to Erie with his friends Ed and Sandi Berry every year during trout season and kept in great contact with his friend from Kentucky, Tom Davis. James was a member of the Moose General Assembly Lodge 3000 since 1989. James was a member of the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church. He was a great Uncle to his many nieces and nephews.

James is survived by his sisters Bernadette Frank and her husband Jim of Oil City and Anita “Annie” Fuchs and her husband David of Polk. His nieces are Jessica (Alan) Kirk of Texas, Andrea (Mike) Grant of Pittsburgh, Rebecca Berdar (Tim) Busko of Huntingdon, Melinda (Jack) Meyer of Erie, Amanda (Jerry) Burns of Oil City, Christina (Chad) Rugh of Franklin and Joanna Fuchs of Massachusetts. James is also survived by 10 great nieces and nephews; Madison Stevens, Abigail Stevens, Josie Burns, Lillian Burns, Catherine Rugh, Andrew Rugh, Zachary Rugh, Joshua Rugh, Jack Knight, Aaron Busko, Tyler Burns and Annie Burke . James's sister in law also survives Layne Berdar of Texas.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers Simon Berdar Jr. and Michael R. Berdar, his sister Debbie Jolley and his brother-in-law Fred E. Jolley Jr.

The family will receive friends at the Larry E. McKinley Funeral Home, 109 Emlenton Street, Clintonville PA on Thursday, April 24, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. till 4:00 p.m. Funeral services will take place at 4:00 p.m. following visitation.

Friends can email condolences by visiting www.mckinleyfuneralhome.net

The family suggest in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in James’s honor be sent to the VNA Foundation in the memo line The Collins House, 491 Allegheny Blvd., Franklin PA 16323 or to the   Multiple Sclerosis Services Society, 638 Centre Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15213

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