James H. "Jim" Testerman

TESTERMAN, James H. - “Jim”, “Big Jim”, “Uncle Jim”, “Dad”, “Papaw” On August 3, 2019, at age 92, Jim passed away at home surrounded by his family. This was exactly the way Jim had hoped his passing would be; at home, surrounded by the people that he loved most. He was born October 18, 1926 on a small family farm in Mount Sterling, KY to Norman & Arla (Stull) Testerman. Although he was preceded in death by siblings, Leona, Ruby, Jessie, Eula, and Bobbie, it is his life that is herein remembered and celebrated. Jim grew up during the Great Depression and left the family farm at age 13 to seek employment in Dayton, Ohio. With his father’s permission, at age 17, he joined and proudly served in, the U.S. Navy during WWII as a Seaman 1st Class in the Pacific Theatre. When the war was over, he returned to Dayton Ohio where he met and married Wilma Karleen Flood. Initially, Jim worked a variety of jobs before settling into carpentry and subsequently founded Testerman Construction Company, which he owned and operated until his retirement in 1986. Jim enjoyed and took great pride in his work, but what he loved, that which was his passion, was time spent with family, friends, and the great outdoors. Jim was devoted to his family and friends; he loved good food and the great outdoors. He had a deep love and respect for the natural beauty of the world, and the unique opportunities each different setting offered for interaction with it. Jim enjoyed hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, boating, traveling of any kind, telling stories, and playing cards, but what he enjoyed most was the comradery; the joy and laughter that was characteristic of any outing with Jim. He would have rather laughed than to eat, which served as a reminder to all that there was always hope; that no matter how dark the clouds, the sun was shining somewhere. When you were with Jim, his bright blue eyes, his warm smile, his deep laugh, and his gentle hugs, all assured you that his world was warm and safe, and that you belonged in it. His was a world filled with natural beauty; a world created to be robustly lived in, a world filled with family, friends, love, and laughter. That world has been rendered both larger by the life he lived, and a little less full by his passing. Jim’s world lives on in the lives of his children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, and all who knew and loved him, but his very bright light will be deeply and dearly missed. Jim is survived by: his loving wife of 70 years, Karleen; 4 children - Linda (Ted) Brink, Karen Caupp, Jim (Mary) Testerman, and Bob Testerman; grandchildren - Kari, T.R., Lindsey, Nathan, Megan, Aaron, Jessica, Jade, and Elli; and great grandchildren - Skyler, Caleb, McKenna, Max, Elara, Olivia, Briar, and Liam. The family will hold a Celebration of Jim’s Life on Saturday, October 19, 2019. For more information please contact daughter Linda Brink at lstbrink68@gmail.com. Condolences may be expressed at: www.RogersFuneralHomes.com