James Curtis Kliewer

James Curtis Kliewer was born in Bakersfield, CA on May 27, 1941 at Mercy Hospital to Aaron & Flora Kliewer. He grew up out in Rosedale going to the Rosedale Mennonite Church where he came to know Jesus. Jim's greatest love in his life was Jesus. He was the baby of six children; two brothers and three sisters; Rueben, Aron Jr, Doris, Eleanor, and Arlene. He married the love of his life, Nancy Engel, on August 4, 1961 in Shafter, CA. He attended Greeley Elementary and Bakersfield High School (1959). He played trumpet, football, wrestling and track and field. "Once a Driller Always a Driller!" He graduated from Fresno Pacific in 1967 with a communications degree. He graduated from Fresno State University with a masters in communication as well. It was here he started working with Young Life in Fresno. They had two sons; Michael Glenn and Stephen Dale Kliewer. the sons later married Lisa Perleberg and Beth Bonetti. Their grandchildren are Mathew, Mark & Brian (Mike & Lisa) and Zach, Emily, Madeline (Jonathan) & Natalie (Steve & Beth). Jim began work with insurance for a few years, then started teaching special education at Arvin High School and later helped open Highland High School. His passion was coaching football, wrestling, track and field and FCA. He helped with the yearbook as well. A highlight of his life was taking a sabbatical year off teaching and taking his family to teach at a missionary school in Ukarumpa, Papua New Guinea with Wycliffe Bible Translators in 1976-7. After this he started a second career in financial planning and retirement with several different companies retiring in 1979. Another joy in his life was serving the Lord in his local church, Fruitvale Community Church which later became Riverlakes Community Church. He was a member of the local Kiwanis Club. His hobbies included being competitive (this could literally be anything), photography, investing, sports, his family, his wife, and of course, telling people about His personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Jim was married to Nancy for 61 years! Jim developed Dementia in his later years but kept a busy schedule with Nancy and never stopped sharing with others the hope and joy that he had found in knowing the Lord. He entered into the arms of Jesus on May 2, 2023, nearly making it to 82 years old at the same hospital he was born in, Mercy Hospital. We will miss your smile, love, hugs, laugh, corny jokes, educational questions, creativity, and singing. But we all know you are having a ball up in Heaven.

A funeral service for James will be held Friday, May 19, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Riverlakes Community Church, 4301 Calloway Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93312. Following the funeral service will be a graveside service at 2:00 PM at Hillcrest Memorial Park, 9101 Kern Canyon Road, Bakersfield, California 93306.

In lieu of flowers: Wycliffe Bible Translators P.O. Box 628200 Orlando, FL. 32862 (Papua New Guinea)

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hillcrestmemorial.com for the Kliewer family.