FORT EDWARD
James Joseph “Toes” Etu, 75, passed away peacefully on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the Indian River Nursing Facility with his children James and Kimberly, his brother Robert, and his nephew Jeff by his side.
Born April 11, 1938 in Fort Edward, NY, James was the son of the late James and Cecelia (Jordan) Etu.
Jimmy graduated from Fort Edward High School and played both basketball and football. He was one of the Iron Men on the 1954 Northern Conference Championship football team, which was undefeated. Jimmy joined the Air Force in 1957 and proudly served for four years as a Radarman. While stationed in California, he played basketball for the base team (he had a hook shot that no one could block) and football for an area semi-pro team.
Jimmy was employed as a teen at Bucky’s Service station. He also worked for the NYS Highway Dept. He owned and operated Etu’s Service Station in Fort Edward. Jimmy also worked for Ciba Geigy, BASF in Rennsalaer, and for a short time at Finch Pruyn in Glens Falls. Jimmy also worked for The Post Star as a delivery route driver.
Jimmy loved children and played Santa Claus for many years at the Fort Edward Fire House as well as going door to door to the homes of sick or homebound children with gifts that he had purchased. He also played the Easter Bunny at Vicky’s Restaurant for many years. He loved to stand out front and wave to the kids. He was a past president of the Fort Edward Little League and was also a concession manager for a number of years. Jimmy rarely missed a game from any of the Fort Edward sports teams.
Jimmy could often be found greeting folks at Ye Old Fort Diner. He would help out anyone, and was always around if you needed him. He most enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren, and will be greatly missed.
In addition to his parents, Jimmy is predeceased by two former wives, Louann Ball and Bertha Etu, a sister, Mary Eileen Parker, and a brother Paul Etu.
Left to cherish his memory are his son James Etu Jr. and his finacee Amy Tranowicz, his daughter Kimberly Etu and her boyfriend Joseph Harrington, his brother, Robert Etu and his wife Patricia, his grandchildren, Shiann, Cameron, Liliana, and Logan, his nieces and nephews; Jeffrey Etu, Cheryl Taft, Mary Stanley, Janice Blackmer, Thomas Etu, John and Sherry Gibson, Lori Powers, Billy Gibson, Justin Parker and Sally Jordan, his sister-in-law Marcia Etu and her three sons, Eric, Josh and Nate, his brother-in-law Rod Parker, and his lifelong best friend Lawrence “Butch” Murray of Omaha, NE.
Friends may call from 4-7pm on Wednesday, February 26, 2014 at the M.B. Kilmer Funeral Home, 82 Broadway, Fort Edward, NY 12828. To leave online condolences and to view Jimmy’s Book of Memories, please visit www.kilmerfuneralhome.com.
A funeral service will be held at 11am on Thursday, February 27, 2014 at the funeral home with Deacon Bill Bazinet officiating. Interment will follow at 1pm at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery.
Memorial donations can be made in Jimmy’s name to the Make A Wish Foundation of Northeastern NY, Inc., 950 Loudon Rd Suite 280, Latham, NY 12110, or to the American Heart Association, Northeastern Region, 440 New Karner Road, Albany, NY 12205-3890.
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