James Kirchner, 80, of Vero Beach, passed away on March 23, 2014.
He is survived by his wife Linda; children Rudy, Mame, Katie, Jim Jr., Karl, John, Leasa and Stacey; 21 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents Mary and Rudolph, son Walter, and three brothers.
Kirchner was born in Miami, and lived in Dayton, Ohio before returning to Florida in 1984, first living on South Beach, Fort Pierce then moving to Vero Beach.
He co-owned Kirchner’s Unfinished Furniture and Finishing Shop on Old Dixie Highway in Vero Beach. He was very active in the RV-Mobile Home Industry.
Kirchner also owned Diamond Jim’s Warehouse Distributors in Dayton and Edinburg, Ohio for 28 years. He was one of the founders of the Warehouse Distribution Association, a role he was proud of, and was voted WDA Man of th Year in 1982.
He was a faithful member of St. Helen Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic Minister and Jail Minister. He was a member of the Vero Beach Masonic Lodge #250; Scottish Rite, Shriners, Optimist Club in Ohio, Kiwanis Club in Vero Beach, and the Newport Club.
Kirchner was the love of Linda’s life and she to him, and together they traveled to many different countries. He enjoyed any activity on the water including scuba diving, boating and fishing.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, PO Box 1000 Dept. 142, Memphis, TN 38101-9908.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, March 27, at the Strunk Funeral Home in Vero Beach with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Mass will be celebrated at 12 p.m., Friday, March 28 at St. Helen Catholic Church. Interment with military honors will follow at Hillcrest Memorial Gardens.
