James S. Funsch – “Jim" to all who knew him – enjoyed a vibrant life marked by love, adventure, work and service. The former and longest-serving mayor of Princeton, Texas, liked to work hard and play hard.
“My motto has always been live fast, love hard, die young,” Jim said often. “I accomplished two out of three of those.”
Jim passed away April 9, 2022, in Princeton, at the age of 76. He was born Decemeber 30, 1945, to Harold Frederick and Mary Lou (Henderson) Funsch in Washington, D.C.
As an Air Force brat, he spent his childhood in Germany, Texas, New York and Japan. He climbed cherry trees and hunted with his older brothers, twins Dennis and Donald Funsch, played football and baseball and competed in equestrian events.
He graduated from Narimasu High School in Tokyo and North Texas State University in Denton, Texas. During the 1960s, he served as a medic in the Air Force Reserves for six years.
Jim married the love of his life, Alena Nichols, on June 28, 1974, in Princeton. In addition to serving as mayor for six years, Jim served on the City Council for two years. He spearheaded upgrades to what is now the J.M. Caldwell Sr. Community Park, helped organize Princeton’s multilayer celebration of Texas’ sesquicentennial, and acted in the community theater.
Jim and Alena raised three daughters, Shelly, Ryan and Erica Funsch. He taught them to swim and enjoyed playing sports with them, especially double-or-nothing basketball in the back yard. During their teen years, he amused himself by tormenting their dates.
“If you touch my daughter below the neck, I’ll break both your kneecaps with a ball-peen hammer,” he would say. Then he would show them that ball-peen hammer.
He also enjoyed cooking, grilling, hunting, reading, telling jokes and regaling friends and family with stories about his extensive travels. He saw the world while working as a strategic business consultant for Electronic Data Systems and Siemens, visiting every continent except Antarctica.
In retirement, Jim loved spending time with his grandchildren. He also began attending First Christian Church in Princeton. He served as a deacon and as president of the board until his death.
Jim is survived by his wife, Alena Funsch, of Princeton; daughters, Shelly Gonzales and husband, Vince, of Princeton, Ryan Rives and husband, Chad, of Arlington, and Erica McAnear and husband, Walker, of Clarendon; grandchildren, A.J. and Max Gonzales, Rylee, Rydlii and Rykyr Rives, and Jaxan, Millie, and Justus McAnear.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his brothers.
A memorial service will be at 4:00 p.m., Friday, April 15, 2022, at Turrentine-Jackson-Morrow Funeral Home, 2525 Central Expressway North, Allen, Texas, 75013. The service will be live streamed at the following link; https://celebrationoflife.tv/blog/james-jim-s-funsch. After the service the recorded version will available on the same link.