John E Schirmer

John E. Schirmer of Westfield, passed away on October 15, 2023 in the arms of Jane, his wife of 64 years. John was born in York, ME on Dec.16, 1938, the son of Clearance R. Schirmer and Louise F. (Parody) Schirmer. After graduating from High School in Portsmouth N.H., John served our country in the U.S. Army’s 101rst and 84th Airborne Divisions as a paratrooper and gifted army trumpeter and bugler. John was a Chartered Life Underwriter and worked for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. for many years, ending his career as V.P. of Training and Development. He also worked for American Life Insurance Company in Sharjah, UAE and Croydon, UK where he truly loved supporting church ministry as an associate pastor, his life’s advocation. In addition to his parents, John was predeceased by three sisters: Ann Tripp, Mary Unruh and Margo Ferrara. He was also predeceased by his son, Michael Schirmer. John is survived by his wife, Jane F. (Kane) Schirmer, and his children John G. Schirmer of Stafford Springs, CT, and James K Schirmer (Marta) of Budapest, Hungary Gwendolyn J Fenton (Dennis) of Springfield and Elizabeth A. Bourassa (Joseph) Of Southwick. John was a kind, patient, loving father to his children and a total pushover to his grandchildren: Nicholas, Tiffany, Joseph, Briana, Simeone, Dennis, Whitney, Tristan, Sydney, Taylor, Jordan, Elizabeth and Izabel. His great-grandchildren Torri, Sam M., Sam C., Skyden, Joey, Jake and Daisy were his crowning joy. Friends and family are invited to meet on Saturday, October 21, 2023 at the Christ Community Church of Hampshire County, 169 College H. Way, Southampton, MA at 10 AM for an hour of fellowship in John’s memory followed by a memorial service at 11:00 A.M. The burial with Military Honors will be held on Tuesday October 24th at 10 am in the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1390 Main Street, Agawam, MA. Firtionadams.com

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