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Sunday's Obituary: James Kirchner

James J. Kirchner Sr., 76, of North President Ave., Lancaster, died at Essa Flory Hospice Center on December 11, 2004.

Born in Lancaster he was the son of the late Othmar and Elizabeth Brophy Kirchner. He was married to Margaret Welsh Kirchner. In February 2005 they would have celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary.

Surviving is a daughter, Ann M. Able, wife of Tony of Wrightsville; three sons, James J. Jr., husband of Tina of Lancaster; John M., husband of Tracey of Elizabethtown; and Stephen T., husband of Susie of Lancaster; eight grandchildren, Jordan and Jenna Abel, Joshua, Laura, Alex, Erica, Gregory and Andrew Kirchner. There are two surviving brothers and two sisters, Thomas Kirchner of Douglasville; Michael Kirchner of Lancaster; Helen Bitts, and Mary Ann Welsh of Lancaster. He was preceded in death by a brother, Othmar Kirchner, and a sister, Margaret Kilhefer.

He is a member of St. Leo the Great Catholic Church. Jim attended Lancaster Catholic High School. In 1943 he entered St. Charles Seminary in Catonsville, MD. Following his graduation from St. Charles Seminary he entered the St. Charles Seminary at Overbrook in Philadelphia. He was sent by the late George L. Leach, Bishop of Harrisburg, to the North American College in Rome, Italy for three years. During the Korean War he served in the US Army and was stationed in Austria for two years. He graduated from Georgetown University School of Law in 1958. He worked for the U.S. Justice Department in Washington, DC for three years. He was a practicing attorney in Lancaster for forty-four years. He was a member of the Pennsylvania and Lancaster Bar Association and was also admitted to practice law before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. He was the Democratic Candidate for Judge of the Court of Common Pleas in Lancaster County in 1972 and 1978. He was the head of the Lancaster Water Authority for a number of years. He was the first President of The Serra Club International. He was also employed as an administrative law Judge by the PA Liquor Control Board, appointed by the late Gov. Milton Shapp.

He was a Past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus Council #867 of Lancaster. He also belonged to The Lancaster Elks Lodge BPOE #134. He was also a member of the Men's Club at Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. He was appointed to the mission Board by Bishop Daily and served on the cemetery committee for the Diocese of Harrisburg.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday morning at 11:00am from St. Joseph Catholic Church, 440 St. Joseph St., Lancaster. Friends may call at St. Joseph Catholic Church on Wednesday from 9:00am to 10:45am. Interment will be at St. Joseph New Catholic Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers contributions in Jim's memory may be made to Hospice of Lancaster County, PO Box 4125, Lancaster, PA 17604 or Lancaster Catholic High School Athletic Association, 630 Juliette Ave., Lancaster, PA 17601.

Arrangements by the Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, 414 E. King St., Lancaster. www.snyderfuneralhome.com
NOTE: Obituary was published on LancasterOnline.com on 13 December 2004.

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