James F. Van Dyne Iv

James F. Van Dyne IV (Jim), age 40, of Wesleyville/Lawrence Park, died suddenly Monday, August 20, 2018, at Hamot Medical Center. He was a disabled veteran of over 10 years with the U.S. Navy.

Although he graduated from Brush Academy, Cleveland in 1996, Jim spent his first 11 years of school at Iroquois where he was widely known as "wolf man" and lettered in football and wrestling. He also played in the concert band.

He was a member of Boy Scout Troop 151 of Harborcreek and completed his Eagle Scout project in Cleveland, Ohio.

Jim enlisted in the Navy December 1999, trained at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center and was accepted at the Naval Nuclear Power Training Command, South Carolina where he finished 34th out of 343 and was qualified to run a nuclear power plant.

Jim chose submarines. In his naval career, he advanced to Petty Officer First Class was awarded three commendations and the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for initiative and the quality and precision of his work. He finished up his career as a docent at the Nautilus Museum in Groton, CT where he received his third commendation for improving the museum.

Suffering a number of injuries in the service resulting in various health problems, Jim had difficulty in finding work in civilian life and finally resolved to turn his Naval education into a degree by entering into Penn State Behrend's Electrical Engineering program in the summer session of 2017 where he scored 4.0. Carrying an accumulative average of 3.6 for his first year, he was invited to join Behrend's Honor Society but died before he could respond.

In addition to his wife of 8 years, Rachel (Riska) of Winona MN, Jim is survived by his mother, Cynthia A. Kohl of Lancaster, Ohio; his father, James F. Van Dyne III of Lawrence Park; his step father, Robert Kohl of Lancaster, Ohio; his step mother, Anna Mae Van Dyne of Lawrence Park; and many cousins and nieces and nephews. He is also survived by his best friend, Tony D'Aurora of Erie, who was his "spirit brother".

Jim is remembered fondly by Rachel's family and friends in Minnesota, her cousins, Sylvia Boettcher and family; aunts and uncles, Carol and Tom, and Joanne and Tom. Also, Aunt Mary Sharp in Portland Oregon; and special friend, Mrs. T. Pink of Minneapolis.

Friends may call at the Dusckas Funeral Home, Inc., 2607 Buffalo Rd., on Friday from 2 to 4 pm and 6 to 8 pm and are invited to attend a Funeral Service at Messiah Lutheran Church, 2025 Eastern Avenue, on Saturday at 11 am, conducted by Rev. Jeffrey Piccirillo. Military honors will follow, conducted by the American Legion Carl Neff Post 571. Memorial contributions may be made to the family through the funeral home.