James John ‘Jim’ Calery, 95, of Lewisburg, died on Thursday, July 28, 2016, at Creekwood Place Nursing in Russellville, Kentucky.
Jim was born James John Gallarello on January 10, 1921, in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., the youngest child of Serafina and Michelangelo Gallarello, immigrants to the United States from San Giorgio la Molara, Italy. Like his older brothers had done before him, as a young man Jim changed his surname to Calery, but remained very proud of his Italian heritage.
Jim enlisted in the U.S. Navy in February 1941 and served during WWII. He retired from the Union Carbide plant in Sault Ste. Marie and from International Bridge on the Michigan-Canadian border. After his retirement, Jim moved to his son Gary’s farm near Lewisburg. He was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Russellville for over 30 years.
Jim loved fishing, hunting, cooking, eating, sports, and telling stories about all of them.
In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by his sister, Lucy Calery; his brothers, Joe, George, and Tony Calery; his wife, Marie Calery; and nephews George Calery and Bobby Calery.
Jim is survived by son Gary Calery and daughter-in-law Mary Kay of Lewisburg and daughters Deborah Calery Hawn of Sault Ste. Marie and Laurie Calery of Fresno, Calif. Jim’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren are all of Louisville: Dustin Calery and wife Jackie Wyngaard Calery with their daughter Cicely; Sunny Calery Payne and her daughter Dakota Weikel; and Angela Calery Goldring with husband Nick Goldring. Jim’s surviving family in Sault Ste. Marie includes his nephew, Ronald James Calery, and his niece, Calery Sutter.
The funeral Mass will be on Saturday, July 30, at 11 a.m. at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 296 W 6th Street, Russellville, with Jim’s friend and pastor, the Rev. Jojy Joseph, officiating. Friends may visit on Friday July, 29, at Price Funeral Home, Inc., 252 E Green St., Lewisburg, from 6-8 p.m. Per his wishes, Jim’s ashes will be interred next to his parents and brother in Riverside Cemetery in Sault Ste. Marie.