Obituary: James Goerlich, 1925-2011

Son Milton, WAHS Class of 1968

James R. Goerlich, 85, of the Rouse Estates passed away on August 12, 2011 at the Warren County Rouse Home.

Jim was born on September 5, 1925 to James R. and Katherine M. Milham Goerlich of Rockdale, Pa. He served in the United States Navy from 1943-1946.  He loved to tell about the ship passing under the Golden Gate Bridge in California and crossing the equator.  He and his company served in the Pacific. After his tour of duty, he returned to the States and married Audeane McCoy on August 10, 1946.  He worked for the United Refining Company for ten years, had a used car lot in North Warren, Jim's Auto Sales, and retired from Crossett's after 20 years.  After his retirement, he often remarked how much he missed getting up early and driving somewhere in one of the Crossett trucks.  "Generous Jim" loved cars, new, old, and used. Any vehicle he could clean, refurbish, and sell made his life happy.  His grandchildren and great grandchildren affectionately called him "PopABear," which he loved.
Jim is survived by his daughters, Sandra Geer of Winterhaven, Fla. and Bonnie Tower of Warren, Pa.; his son, Milton Goerlich and wife Linda, of Jacksonville, Fla.; sisters, June Hughes, Bethlehem, Pa. and Kathleen Ranalli of Thorton, Pa.; brothers, David Goerlich of Bethlehem, Pa. and Russell Goerlich of Houston, Texas; grandsons, James M. Goerlich and wife, Jessica, of Guerneville, Calif. and Jason M. Goerlich of Christiansburg, Va.; granddaughters, Kelly Weary and husband, Ed, of Cambridge Springs, Pa., Jennifer G. Goerlich of Jacksonville, Fla. and Nikki Dove and husband, Jason, of Christiansburg, Va.; greatgrandchildren, David Latimer, Nicole Latimer, Tanner Kirley, Emery Goerlich, Jacy Goerlich, Ashton Hall, and Harley Dove.

In addition to his wife, parents, and stepmother, Lena Easterday Goerlich, Jim was preceded in death by a sister, Mary Ann Check; brothers Edward, Earl, Leon, Gerald, and Johnny; and sonsinlaw, Barton L. Geer and Clinton C. Tower.

Friends will be received at the Peterson-Blick Funeral Home, Inc., 1003 Penn Ave. E., Warren, from 68 p.m. on Sunday evening August 14, and for one hour prior to a funeral service to be held at the funeral home at 11 a.m. on Monday August 15, with Rev. Marcus Briggs, friend of the family and chaplain, Rouse Home and Warren General Hospital, officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like contributions to be made to the activities sponsored at the Rouse Estate, 700 Rouse Blvd., Youngsville, Pa., 16371 or Hospice of Warren County, 2 Crescent Park, Warren, Pa. 16365.