Cover photo for James Lee Taraczkozy's Obituary
James Lee Taraczkozy Profile Photo
1942 James 2018

James Lee Taraczkozy

May 26, 1942 — November 18, 2018

James Lee Taraczkozy, 76, of Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania passed away unexpectedly at home on November 18, 2018.

Jim was born on May 26, 1942 in Glen Rogers, West Virginia to the late Baler A. and Margaret Sleboda Taraczkozy.

He graduated from Glen Rogers High School where he was a member of the high school band. Following graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany. It was there that he met and married the love of his life, Gisela Goetze, on September 21, 1963.

Jim was formerly employed by Alcoa Aluminum in Cleveland and was an independent truck driver for Allied Van Lines. He was the owner and operator of a salvage yard in Conneaut Lake, Pennsylvania.

He never forgot his West Virginia roots and friends in Wyoming County. When floods hit the area he would load up his truck with food, clothes and cleaning supplies and head home. In recognition of his community efforts he was nominated and elected to the Glen Rogers High School Hall of Fame. His involvement in helping others did not end in West Virginia but led him to mission work in the United States and Ukraine. He assisted a group known as SARA (Sharing American Resources Abroad) in their efforts to bring medical assistance to those in need in Ukraine. This group solicited used, but still useable medical equipment and medical supplies, for people in Ukraine. He made many trips to Europe delivering these supplies. While there he searched for information of his father's family, learning that there were living relatives in the Ukraine. Jim's dad was born in Hungary but after World War II, nation's boundaries were redrawn and the place of his dad's birth was now a part of Ukraine.

Christmas was his favorite holiday. He would put on his red velvet Santa suit, enlist the support of his grand children and great grand children and became Santa. He entertained the children of Conneaut Lake for many years.

Jim is survived by his wife Gisela; a son James G.B. Taraczkozy and his wife Brenda of Jamestown, PA., his daughter Gerda S. Frazier and her husband Michael of Meadville, PA. There are seven grand children and 10 great grand children. He was also survived by his sisters Nancy Sanger and her husband Robert of Oak Hill, WV and Elizabeth Kyle of Huntington, WV. In addition, he was survived by two nephews and their wives, Russell Taraczkozy of Middleburg Heights, Ohio and Matthew Taraczkozy of Parma, Ohio.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son Christian Robert, a brother Nicholas John, a sister Helen, a great grandson Brendan Adams and a brother in law Frederick Kyle.

The funeral was on November 21, 2018 at the Faith and Grace Fellowship Church in Conneaut Lake, PA. Interment was at Rocky Glen Cemetery. The arrangements were entrusted to the Dickson Funeral Home in Conneaut Lake, PA.

Online condolences may be sent at www.tyreefuneralhome.com

Information submitted by Tyree Funeral Home, Oak Hill, WV
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