1938 – 2014

ROXBURY — James Edward Heintzelman, 75, died at his home on Tuesday, April 22, following a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer.

“Yukon Jim,” as he was known, was born in Leavenworth, Kan., on Nov. 16, 1938, to Francis and Mary Harriet (Mottin) Heintzelman. He graduated from Immaculata High School in Leavenworth, Kan., and recently attended his 50th class reunion. After high school, he served in the U.S. Navy for 21 years and obtained the rank of chief. During his career in the military and after retiring, he owned and operated an upholstery business. For many years, he lived in Massachusetts, before moving to Maine in 1984. After traveling the world with the U.S. Navy, he finally felt he had found a home in Maine.

James was a devout Catholic and was a member of St. Athanasius-St. John Church in Rumford. He found happiness and joy in bass fishing, playing the slots in Oxford, growing roses, playing cribbage, helping others and in spending time at his camp on the Swift River, prospecting for gold. He was always quick to invite people to the river for a quick lesson in panning for gold, always hoping to find a flake or two. Doing this earned him the nickname of “Yukon Jim.” Jim had a love of golden retrievers and was always accompanied by his faithful companions, Nugget and Schatzi.

He is survived by his former spouse, Deloris A. Duplease, of Nashua, N.H.; his three children, Beth Ann Heintzelman and her husband, Kent Meizejeski, of Essex, Conn., David Glenn Heintzelman and his wife, Joanne, of New Carrollton, Md., and Barbara Dale Coleman of Hollis Center; he was also “Papa Jim” to six grandchildren, Matthew Graves and his wife, Brianne, of Jacksonville, Fla., Jonathan Koestner-Heintzelman of Biddeford, Kati-Layne Koestner of Buxton, Elizabeth A. Coleman of Hollis Center, Nathaniel Heintzelman of Essex, Conn., and Alyssa Heintzelman of New Carrollton, Md.; two great-grandchildren, Gage Matthew Graves and Olivia Grace Koestner-Richardson; a sister, Mary Wagner, and a brother, Andrew Heintzelman, both of Leavenworth, Kan.; as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was predeceased by his parents and his siblings, Francis and Anna.

You are invited to share your thoughts, condolences and fond memories with the Heintzelman family by visiting their guest book at www.SGThibaultFuneralHome.com.