In the quiet town of Brockway, Pennsylvania, James 'Jim' Richard Wildnauer, a 68-year-old male, passed away at his home on David Lane on Tuesday, April 10, 2018. A lifelong resident of the area, he was born on November 6, 1949, in St. Marys, Pennsylvania. After graduating from St. Marys Area High School in 1968, he served his country for four years in the United States Navy.
Following his military service, Mr. Wildnauer became a foreman at Stackpole Carbon Company in St. Marys.
He later pursued further education, graduating from Jefferson County Vo-Tech, which led to a career as an electrician at Metaldyne in St. Marys, from where he eventually retired. He was a devoted member of St. Tobias Roman Catholic Church in Brockway, where he served as the head usher. His community involvement also extended to serving on the board of the Mengle Memorial Library.
Those who knew him described him as a gracious, intelligent, and funny person whose faith shaped him into a compassionate man. He found joy in simple pleasures, such as his weekly Thursday breakfast gatherings with friends, fishing, golfing, and driving his cherished Saturn Sky convertible. He was a beloved brother and uncle, and his absence is deeply felt by his family and all who had the good fortune to be a part of his life.
The circumstances surrounding his death were part of a larger tragedy. State Police reported that James Wildnauer was found deceased alongside his wife, Janice Erickson Wildnauer, in what was determined to be a murder-suicide. He was a victim of gun violence.
