James P. Fallecker, 70, of Chicora, passed away at his home on Sunday, September 11, 2022, after a fantastic day of fishing with members of his bass fishing club.
Jim was born in Butler, the son of Dolores (Zang) Fallecker of Emlenton and the late Paul R. Fallecker.
He graduated from Butler Area High School in 1970. Jim is survived by his lovely wife of 44 years, Christine (Galan) Fallecker, whom he married in Butler on March 4, 1978. Together they raised their three children in Chicora. Jim was well known as a quick-witted, amateur comedian, who spent 20 years in and out of the state prison system.
After he retired from the prison system, he enjoyed working for the Karns City Area School District for a few years as a bus driver. He then worked as an Assembler at Bayer, Saxonburg. Jim's last job was one of his most enjoyable, transporting his Amish friends and their materials to and from their job sites. Jim also served as a council member of the Chicora Borough, overseeing Chicora Park.
After the 2016 elections, Jim found himself in and out of jail. It is suspected he kept no less than three Facebook jailer's gainfully employed with his free time. The remainder of Jim's free time was spent bass fishing (his passion), hunting, bowling, and playing trivia. He was a decades-long member of the Bass Buddies bass fishing club and fished competitively in tournaments throughout PA. Jim was the happiest when he was on the water, with his wife, kids, grandkids, and family members. Jim was also a member of Happy Hunters Sportsman's Club and Camp Happy Nine Association. He has bagged large bucks, a bear, and more recently, a Pennsylvania Elk. He was a member of the Chicora Moose where he used his decades of Jeopardy knowledge to help propel his Trivia Team to some victories. Jim and Chris were also long-time members of the Mama's & PaPa's bowling league. Jim's most recent favorite activity was helping his daughter cook for the K.C. Varsity football players.
In addition to his mother, Jim is survived by his wife, Christine; two sons, Nick Fallecker and his wife, April, and Greg Fallecker and his wife, Adrienne; his daughter, Amanda Booher and her husband, Chad; Jim was known affectionately as “Pappy” to his six amazing grandchildren, Layla and Lillian Fallecker, Mikkenzie and Westin Fallecker, Eric and Cameryn Booher; his siblings, Karen Ricciardella and her husband Ken; David Fallecker and his wife Denise, Patti Brandt and her husband, Scott, and Dan Fallecker; his sisters-in-law Terri McKee Fallecker and Marsha Galan; two brothers-in-law, Van Galan and Lou Galan and his partner, Felicia Saunders; six sisters-in-law and their spouses, as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Paul R. Fallecker, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, George and Ann Galan; a nephew, little Paul Ricciardella; a niece Kristin Martin, and his dear fishing buddies, (who he is probably fishing with in heaven) Kenny Pate, Gary Holmes, and Frank Nagy.
Friends will be received at the Hile Funeral Home of Chicora, 339 Chicora Fenelton Rd., Chicora, from 5-9 p.m. Thursday, September 15, 2022 and from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Friday, September 16, 2022. A funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Paul DeBacco of Crisswell Bible Baptist Church, officiating.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Karns City Regional Ambulance Service, PO Box 21, Petrolia, PA 16050, or the Chicora VFD, PO Box F, Chicora, PA 16025 for their valiant and remarkable efforts to save Jim’s life, of which his family is forever grateful. Condolences may be sent by visiting www.hilefh.com