James Schoenecker

On June 30th, 2025, James “Jim” Andrew Schoenecker died peacefully, aged 85, at Orchard Valley Nursing Home in Henderson County, North Carolina, after a long decline in health. He is survived by his wife of 30 years, Lynda; his sons Patrick (Sandrine) and Mark (Elise); his grandchildren Charles, Victoire, Jenny, and Stacy; his stepdaughter Esther (Jim) Luedtke; his niece Robin Blose; and extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Mary (Konesky); his first wife, Christiane; his son, William; and his brother, Robert.

Jim was born in Pittsburgh and raised in and near Kittanning, PA. He was a keen high school football player, hunter, and fisherman, and a lifelong fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers—he always appreciated the game tapes sent by his cousin Bill Harkins while he lived abroad. Soon after high school, Jim enlisted in the U.S. Army (artillery), serving for ten years. During a deployment to France near Verdun, he met and married Christiane Grein. They had three sons: William, Patrick, and Mark. After his military service, Jim returned to France and worked for his father-in-law, embracing the country fully—he spoke French fluently and loved its culture and way of life.

In 1981, Jim joined the American Battle Monuments Commission. He rose from assistant to superintendent, overseeing burial grounds for fallen American service members in multiple European sites. As noted in a Stars and Stripes article upon his retirement, Jim found this work profoundly moving. His care and attention made a lasting difference to the families of the fallen, many of whom traveled long distances to visit loved ones lost in war. He believed deeply in the responsibility of honoring their memory with dignity and respect.

In 1990, he became the superintendent of the Cambridge American Cemetery at Madingley. While he and Christiane moved to England, their sons remained in France, where they still live with their families. It was at Cambridge that Christiane passed away after a battle with cancer.

In 1993, Jim married Lynda (Kirkland, Kaune), and in 2004, they returned to his native Pennsylvania, settling in Butler, where he reconnected with family he had not seen for many years. After 20 happy years there, he moved to Orchard Valley Nursing Home, where his wife, stepdaughter, and her husband could visit him daily.

Jim will be laid to rest in the columbarium at the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies in Washington County, Pennsylvania. As he always wished, no flowers or formal service will be held; his funeral and cremation have taken place privately at Shuler Funeral Home in Hendersonville, NC.

Jim was always fond of the Benedictine Sisters in Pittsburgh, where his aunt, Sister Matilda OSB, spent most of her life. He would be happy to think that friends and family might like to contribute to their ongoing mission at St. Benedict Monastery, 3526 Bakerstown Road, Bakerstown, PA 15007-9705, in his memory. Shuler Funeral Home has the honor of serving the family.