James Sterner
WEST GROVE, PA - On February 28, 2024, at the age of 100, Jim Sterner died peacefully at home with family. Jim was born in 1923 . His wife of 75 years, Stella (Sis) Ward Sterner died in 2020. He is survived by 5 daughters, Patricia Johnson (Glenn), Juliette Sterner, Tamasin Sterner (Colleen), Ginger Hunter, and Amy Gould (Curtis); 5 grandchildren, 3 step-grandchildren, and 5 great-grandchildren. During his childhood, Jim lived in Philadelphia and Allentown, PA, moving to Wilmington, DE in 1939. He was graduated from Alexis I DuPont high school in 1941. He attended the University of Delaware (Engineering) until May, 1943 when called to WWII active duty in the US Army after enlisting. Jim was assigned to Company K, 3rd Battalion, of the 333rd Infantry Regiment, in the 84th Infantry Division, as a Private. Before going to war, Jim married Sis on July 1, 1944 in Wilmington, DE. Jim was heroic in Germany and Belgium and was promoted to Sergeant. On December 26, 1944, he was wounded during the Battle of the Bulge and was hospitalized for 4 months. Jim received the Combat Infantry Badge, Purple Heart, and Bronze Star. His Campaigns were Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardennes. Jim was discharged from the US Army January, 1946 and moved to Troy, NY with Sis where he graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute January, 1949. He worked for the DuPont company while living in Waynesboro, VA; East Greenwich, RI; Madison, NJ; Kennett Square, PA; and Chesapeake City, MD. He retired in 1985 and he and Sis moved to Jenner’s Pond in Jennersville, ( West Grove) PA in 2001.
Retirement brought Jim time to reconnect with old friends, and watch Hogan’s Heroes. Jim loved crossword puzzles, bird watching, and visiting with neighbors. He was delighted by his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Around 2020, Jim was essentially “discovered” when a daughter began posting his war stories on social media and on YouTube. Today, there are several videos on YouTube where Jim recalls his experiences while being interviewed by numerous international historians and students. Remembering everything even until the end, Jim was a valuable resource and helped families process their loved ones’ war experiences during phone conversations up until his death. Jim was the last of the original Company K group to die. Services will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations in Jim’s name to Florent Plana’s and Jenny Post’s GoFundMe. They are WWII battlefield tour guides and historians who help WWII Veterans return to Normandy. The following link will send you directly to their GoFundMe page - to make a donation: https://gofund.me/ad4bcce5. For online condolences visit Chandlerfuneralhome.com
Jeffrey David Wynne, age 69 passed away at home on Wednesday, February 28, 2024 in Wilmington, DE due to complications from pneumonia after he was healing from Influenza A and all while fighting cancer. Jeff ’s only wish was to die at home and not in the hospital. We were able to grant Jeff that final wish and he passed four and a half hours later with me looking over him. When he was transferred from the ambulance to the house, his eyes opened wide and he looked all around the sky and at the trees, letting me know that he knew he was home.
Jeff was the second born son of Harold and Nancy Wynne in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He attended Pottstown High School where he played a little football, but the family moved to West Chester where Jeff graduated from Unionville High School in 1973. He worked several different jobs throughout his life most notedly, Chadds Ford Tree Service, Belmonte Contracting and ten years at Kencor Elevator in which he was certified as an Elevator Technician building and servicing elevators in the tri-state area.
Jeff and I met in 1987 when he worked at Chadds Ford Tree Service as well as working the door at Joe’s Sportsman Lounge a few nights a week while living in an apartment above the bar. He would invite members of the bands to come up to his apartment on their set breaks and got to know many of them well. He loved hiking in the woods along the Brandywine, camping, fishing and live music. He was such an animal lover I used to call him Dr. Do Little because he just had a way with animals. He loved the outdoors.
In 1995 we had a baby boy name Daniel Jeffrey and six months later we bought a house and moved to Delaware. Jeff decided to retire at age 62 and enjoyed tinkering in his workshop. He especially enjoyed trying to fix lawn mowers that his friend would find on the side of the road and bring to him. Jeff lived life simply put. Jeff was predeceased by his mother and father who both passed away very recently as well as his nephew Gregory Wynne.
Jeff is survived by his life partner Cynthia Ruggirello and their son Daniel as well as his brother Gregory Wynne (Connie), and two sisters Laurie Wynne and Kristen Friend ( Jay). He is also survived by his nephew Brandon Wynne (Alessandra), niece Hannah Friend, a great niece Skylar Wynne and great nephew Shane Wynne.
Family will say good-byes privately. Arrangements are being handled by the McCrery & Harra Funeral Homes and Crematory, Inc. Wilmington, Delaware. On-line condolences may be made at www.mccreryandharra.com.