James A. Kitzmiller

James A. "Jim" Kitzmiller, age 77,

Of New Bremen, died on Friday, July 25, 2025 at 8:55 A.M. at the St. Rita's Medical Center in Lima after a long period of declining health. He was born on July 12, 1948 in Celina, the son of the late Elmer J. and Marie M. (Burmeister) Kitzmiller. On February 6, 1971 he married Jeanine E. Hirschfeld, and she survives in New Bremen. Also surviving are his siblings: Michael (Marjorie) Kitzmiller of Ft. Loramie, Jon (Janice) Kitzmiller and Mark (Peggy) Kitzmiller all of New Bremen, Kerry Kitzmiller of Jackson Center, and Jayne (Clark Rodeheffer) Kitzmiller of New Knoxville; as well as his in-laws: Nora Kitzmiller of Indian Lake, Terry (Ted) Wagner of New Bremen, Margaret Hirschfeld, and numerous nieces and nephews. Along with his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his younger brother Jay Kitzmiller and a brother in-law Lanny Hirschfeld.

Jim was a 1967 graduate of New Bremen High School and he briefly served in the United States Navy. He worked for most of his life at Henschen Industrial in Jackson Center which made products for the RV and marine industries (including Airstream) as well as the agricultural industry. It was there that he acquired a couple of patents while working as a product development manager. He had also been employed at Reliable Tool & Machine Co. in Kendallville, Indiana, and later at Axis Products, Inc. in Elkhart, IN. He spent four years at Dexter Axle Co. headquarters in Elkhart, IN as the product manager, from which he retired in 2014.

Jim was diagnosed in 2015 with myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder, which led to numerous complications in later years. He greatly appreciated a brother in-law, Ted Wagner, who visited and aided him during his final years in a skilled nursing facility.

Jim loved fishing, gardening, cooking, dining out, NASCAR races, and building an outside runway and cat enclosure for his wife’s Siamese cats.

Private services will be held with inurnment taking place in the German Protestant Cemetery of New Bremen. In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family requests memorial contributions be made to the Auglaize County Humane Society (P.O. Box 305, Wapakoneta, Ohio 45895). Condolences and memories may be shared with the Kitzmiller family online at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.