James Varble
Age - 76
December 7, 2023
James "Jim" C. Varble died Tuesday, December 5th 2023 after a short, but honorable, battle with aggressive bladder cancer. He was 76 years old.
Summarizing his life in a few paragraphs is a challenge, given that he had more businesses, inventions, and job titles than is realistic for one person. To name a few: American Eagle Stoves creator, New York Dwarf Car Association founder, race car driver, welder, volunteer firefighter, Gone Racin' store owner, field technician for RDP Technologies, welding teacher/mentor, entrepreneur, scuba diver, and more. Working was such a part of his life, and it allowed him to travel the world and build deep friendships with so many. Each endeavor offered a way to use his incredible engineering mind, ability to construct, and artistic creativity in fulfilling ways.
However he will most be remembered as a famously mustached and handsome man who came home from work, took off his steel-toed boots, and danced with the love of his life, Cheryl, in the kitchen. Persistence led him there. After first setting eyes on her, he pursued her with characteristic single-mindedness, giving every man who looked her way the side-eye. In an effort to woo her, he even treated her mother to breakfasts. They lived a glorious life, and their children are still learning its secrets, which include run-ins with the Coast Guard.
He put his older kids in his welding shop, sweeping and painting--teaching and creating the next generation of strong women. (Still, he could send them back upstairs to change with only a finger point and an eyebrow raise. ) He made his younger kids eat Le Sueur peas--though never in a casserole--and disallowed flip-flops and sweatpants in public. He always owned big dogs and made a safe haven for every wild animal that lived in his yard, which fostered a deep love of nature in all of his children. He spent many hours meticulously maintaining that yard, too--just ask his sons-in-law how to mow a lawn. He spoiled his grandchildren with endless ice cream trips, poop jokes, and every flavor of chip ever created. To convince him to blow up any pool inflatable, all it took was a simple whine.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents Noah "Sam" & Geraldine Varble. He is survived by his sisters Pat (Don) Setter and Sue (Jack) Wiesmore; his wife Cheryl Varble; daughters Michelle Varble, Kimberly (Tom) Duehring, Deanna Varble (Matt Bielewicz), Jaime (Jarrett) Boyes; grandchildren Bree, Alex, Kaitlyn, Nicholas, Robert (Lindsay), Derronntay (Dawn), Brinley, Blakely, Jack, Ian, Loren, Gabriel; and 7 great-grandchildren; all of whom he inspired to be the world's leaders, problem solvers, worker-bees, garden hose-curlers, and kind-hearted (if a little anxious) control freaks. Having been loved by him is one of the greatest gifts of their lives.
A Celebration of Life, as dictated by the man himself, will be held Sunday, December 10th from 4-7pm at the Clarence Center Fire Hall at 9415 Clarence Center Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation in memory of Jim Varble be made to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center where he and his family received incredible compassionate care.Show more
.png){kind=small}
.png){kind=small}
