OBITUARY
James Steven Dempster
February 15, 1946 – March 26, 2021
James Steven Dempster received the gift of life on February 15, 1946, and the gift of eternal life March 26, 2021.
Jim grew up in Pittsburgh and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh. After graduation, he served in the Army as Captain and Company Commander at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. He was an entrepreneur and started the Dempster Corporation that sold table linens and accessories, founded MCC Manufacturers Credit Cooperative and MRCS Manufacturers Representatives Collection Service and, dear to his heart, was the child support collection service Family Advocate that he created.
Jim was active in the local Presbyterian churches, including acting as shepherd for the new member class and as a long-time facilitator for DivorceCare.
He showed tremendous courage, strength and determination in his long struggle with cancer. Jim’s strong faith was central to his life.
Many sought his wise counsel whether for spiritual, business, or personal guidance and you could feel he truly connected with you.
Jim was spiritual, wise, evangelical, loving, compassionate, empathetic, genuine, thoughtful, funny, honest, selfless, consistently stable-even keel, high morals and ethics, integrity, loyal, inspirational, optimistic, patient, reliable, solid, fair, caring, appreciative, intelligent, witty, well-informed, available, merciful, humble, prayerful, strong, sweet, eloquent in correspondence and speaking, the consummate gentleman.
We will miss his earthly presence, but will continue to feel his spirit forever.
He is remembered by his beloved wife of 27 years Karen “Katie”(Kanieski); much loved sister Lillie Young; nephew Chris Young (Liz) and children Cate, Scott, Grant; niece Erin Garrett (Judd) and children Frankie, Campbell, Kassity, Leigh, and Charlie; niece Lindsey Lee (Marc) and children Ryan and Parker; brother-in-law and friend of 50 years John Kanieski (Mary), nephew Chris (Laura) and grandniece Ava; sister-in-law Lynne Deucher (Ted), nephew Alex (Angela) and grandniece Arya, niece Allegra; brother-in-law Charley Kanieski (Liz) and nephew Aaron; sister-in-law Mary Kanieski; sister-in-law Geri Ann Sokell (Jim) and nephews Kyle and Kalin; brother-in-law Mike Kanieski (Sybille) and nephews Max and Ben and niece Carla; and countless friends whose lives he touched so deeply.
Jim was preceded in death by loving mother Stephanie Marie Dempster and father James Garfield Dempster, brother-in-law and close friend Charles Edward Young and grandnephew Calvin Garrett.
The funeral service will be private, but join us for the livestream on Tuesday, April 13, at 11:30AM with the link on www.sparkman-hillcrest.com obituary. Under 'Services', click on JOIN LIVESTREAM. (http://www.hppres.org/live). Graveside service is open to all at 2:30PM that day at DFW National Cemetery, 2000 Mountain Creek Parkway, Dallas, 75211. Check the website for information on Monday. Or you can also join the livestream for this service on the same website obituary.
Donations are suggested to Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) or the Salvation Army.
Services
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Funeral Service
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
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Burial
Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Memories
James Steven Dempster
have a memory or condolence to add?
ADD A MEMORYGeri Ann Sokell
April 13, 2021
We all will miss Jim-both Kyle and Kalin will kiss their Uncle Jim's rooting for the Steelers vs Browns as well as the political names their Christmas gifts were from! The great memories of when we visited Karen and Jim in Dallas in 2014-ate lobster, toured JFK museum, and of course every sports stadium nearby! Also we remember when they visited us when we were living in Tennessee and we all went to Asheville and Uncle Jim treated us to lunch and we all hiked Roan mountain. I will also miss his compliments of how wonderful our boys were raised! What a wonderful funeral tribute to a great person...Our hearts all go out to Karen.....
Love,
Geri Ann
Eileen Knight
April 13, 2021
I knew what a great man Jim was in high school. I was secretly in love with him. I have wondered about him all these years and I give you my sincerest regrets that he is gone. I'm glad he had children as he would have been a great Father, too. So sorry
Lynne Deucher
April 13, 2021
When I think of Jim I always think of traveling because we didn't live in Dallas, so one of the other of us would have to travel to see each other. Karen and Jim always showed us such a wonderful time when we visited them and we had an equally great time when they visited us. Always our shared love of restaurants, food and always wine. Of all our trips, the one to Provence was the best! I still love and wear the purple hat Jim got me there and it brings back all the great memories. I'm so sad we won't be able to travel together again or visit and drink wine together. We'll miss you Jim! Love you Karen.
Lynne
Ted Deucher
April 13, 2021
Jim was a gentleman in every way who lived his beliefs with sincerity and dignity. He was an inspiration to so many, and he will be greatly missed by all whose lives he touched.
Ted
Allegra Deucher
April 13, 2021
Uncle Jim and Aunt Karen were like second parents growing up. They were wonderful hosts, and I always cherished spending the holidays with them. We enjoyed many of the same things like savoring good food, wine, and company as well as catching up on current movies and of course, traveling! My family and I got to take several trips with Jim and Karen including to the south of France which is still one of my family's favorite vacations ever! We will dearly miss Uncle Jim and remember him often. We love you Aunt Karen.
Mary Anne Zeller
April 13, 2021
Dear Karen,
My heart aches for you and is filled with sorrow. The funeral service for Jim was inspiring. His faith must have been one of his greatest attributes. I knew he was a very special person because you chose him, but today that assumption of mine was reinforced beautifully.
Prayers for everyone.
love
Mary Anne
Evelynn Reynolds
April 13, 2021
Goodness, what will we all do without our dear friend, Jim? Karen, thank you for sharing him with all of us these many, many years. I can only imagine the time you, also, sacrificed for Jim to counsel/guide/walk with the rest of us. I write this with both you and Jim in my heart. I met Jim in 1993 and it was, as many of your write below, a divine appointment in my own life. Recently divorced and mother of a then 7 year old little girl, I was broken and trying to find my way. I met Jim and soon went to work for him which is where my spiritual faith/growth was reignited. Jim always gave me his time and with his help, a new life for me began to unfold. He saw me through many years of struggle and even after I left his employ, we continued our friendship and he continued to walk along side of me.
Karen, you are an amazing wife and Jim bragged on you often to me. Especially your prayer life and your yoga headstands. They amazed him! I smile as I remember him telling me about you often and the love that oozed out of him for you. I know he adored you, as well he should have! He also told me stories of Lillie/Charles and all of their children . . .he was so proud of all of you and bragged on you often. You brought him joy and purpose.
My heart is broken today but my faith is strong. Jim persevered through a battle with cancer for so many years, and even then he was still praying for others. He is an example to me of how I wish to live my own life. And at the end of my life if I touch only a few as Jim did so many, I will count myself blessed. God bless you all, Karen/Lillie and Jim's entire family. Know that we are praying God's comfort, peace and grace into your lives today and tomorrow and all the days afterward. We love you.
-Evelynn
Elizabeth Stetenfeld
April 12, 2021
It is hard to imagine life on this earth without Jim. He was a quiet and wise man who gave so unselfishly to others. Always positive and kind, he lifted me up and guided me through some tough times. He was always there for me (and many others) and very generous with his time. We prayed together and discussed our faith and I learned something new and life changing from his wisdom.
Jim reinforced my faith in God and gave me a different way to view the challenges that life brings. For this, I am eternally grateful. He changed my life.
Jim was a humble and good man. I will never forget him and his words will stay with me for the rest of my life. I miss him so much but he will always be with me in my heart.
Thank you Karen for unselfishly sharing Jim with us throughout the years. He loved you so very much.
Elizabeth Stetenfeld
Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home
April 12, 2021
Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home
April 12, 2021
Frank Petronzio
April 12, 2021
"As Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."
Proverbs 27:17
I met Jim in New York over thirty years ago at a trade show. Little did I know that it was God who set the time and place for us to meet. In reading the testimonies, I can see that God had a lot of the same appointments for you all as he had for me. Our lives have been so blessed by knowing him. There are people who make this world a better place and James Dempster was truly one of them!
He was my brother in Christ. I believe that you never really know a person until you pray with them. Some people say they will pray for you, or your family or a tough situation you are going through, but Jim followed through on his promises. With the Petronzio family of five children and 17 grandchildren, he had plenty of prayer requests. He knew them all by name and diligently followed up on all of them. We shared so many stories of life, business, politics and much more. We laughed together, cried together, and always arrived at being humbled by the Goodness of our God.
I am truly blessed to have Jim in my life and to call him my friend. He casts a very long shadow in the Love of Jesus!
To Karen and the whole Dempster Family: Thank you for sharing Jim with us all!
I want to sign off as Jim so often did:
Grace and Peace...
Ashley Hunziker
April 11, 2021
My mom started working for Mr. Dempster in 1993. He has been a cherished friend of our family ever since. He eulogized my grandmother's funeral 6yrs ago and then my stepdad's 2yrs ago.
My mom was a single mother, working full time and with Jim's help and encouragement, going to college. When I was home sick from school she couldn't afford to take off so Jim would let me come up to the office. I would make a pallet by my mom's desk and Walter (Jim's cat) would come curl up next to me in front of the space heater. I was free to rifle through the office supplies for markers and paper to draw and he would pretend to marvel at my drawings. I don't know how many bosses would let their employee bring their sick kid to work with them, let alone sleep on the floor or waste office supplies. I venture to guess not many.
He was always playing classical music (101.1) in his office and he always had time for me. That meant a lot to a little girl with no father to speak of. He accepted and loved me like a daughter into my adulthood. He came to my college graduation with the pride of a father, alongside only my mom and step dad.
Next to my mom and step dad, he was my guide, my mentor. He has been there for my family like no one else outside of it. There will never be anyone like him, he'll be dearly missed. To end on a happy note, I think of him every time I go to Jason's deli.
Kevin Petitto
April 11, 2021
It was a pleasure working for you over the years and I enjoyed our long chats about the meaning and purpose of everything. Thank you and your wife for assisting me in the past. All of it was greatly apprecieated. Khim and I will truly miss your spirit. Travel well James...peace out Sir...
Linda Petronzio
April 11, 2021
When we got the call from Dallas, we did not want to answer it. Frank and I looked at each other with tears of apprehension in our eyes. Despite the fact that we know that Jim is in the arms of Jesus, we felt the loss before we heard Karen's voice. My relationship with Jim was mostly via phone, but it encompassed so much more. I knew that he was an "anchor" in Frank's life, but he was a lifeline of prayer and counseling to me. I would always stop everything to speak with him when he called. Jim really invested himself in people, including Frank, our children and grandchildren and myself. He also knew that I loved to talk about Jesus and His Word and we often would praise Him together. We feel the loss now, but our sadness will be turned into joy at our next meeting. I was blessed to know that Jim spent Good Friday and Easter in heaven. What an event that must have been! His Lord said, "Well done thou good and faithful servant, thou hast been faithful in over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy LORD."
Be at peace, Jim. You were a blessing to us and we loved you for it. You will never be forgotten by us and many others who lives you touched. We will see you in Paradise for eternity!
Chuck Lowry
April 10, 2021
I have never met a man filled with so much grace, so much love from the Lord, so much caring and concern for other people instead of himself, than James Dempster.
I knew Jim for 25 years- he lifted me up out at the worst time of my life and gave me hope and strength to keep going.
He was my boss, my mentor, my counselor- someone I would go to to talk things over and offer advice and direction. But mostly, he was my friend.
Jim provided security, safety, employment, and financial aid through tough times, helped me grow from the lowest part of my life to good times, and showed passion, concern and love for my children as they grew.. Jim always showed care and concern for my family, constantly asking about them and how they were doing, and rejoiced in good news and prayed for us and me during hard times.
I will miss my talks with Jim. I will miss sitting in his office for hours on end sharing life experiences, sharing laughter, and sharing stories.
There is a void in my heart that will be hard to fill.
I rejoice knowing that Jim is with our Lord right now, the pain that he was feeling is gone, the hard long fight is finished, and he is now celebrating eternally with Jesus right now.
Jim, I will join you in the blink of an eye.
Charley Kanieski
April 10, 2021
I think all the adjectives really do capture Jim's memory.
Lots of love to those of us missing Jim
Charley
Gary Schafer
April 9, 2021
I am a man greatly blessed by God. One of my 'greatest blessings' has been to know Jim for forty-four years and to work for him for twenty-five. He is a man unlike any I have ever known and every wonderful thing written in his obituary is absolutely true. I never saw anyone around him for any length of time who wasn't personally blessed—including my family. I also know for sure that Heaven will be more populated because of what he allowed God to do through him—including the last five-plus years. He will be one of the first people I will look for when I get there.
Gary Schafer
Robert Hopper
April 6, 2021
Jim was a gracious and loving man, business man and most of all Christian. He was a true inspiration to me and others as we came into difficult life situations. His well worn Bible was a testament to his faith and its importance to him.
He will be missed by many people, but his memory will be long lived as we strive to be the type of servant leader he was during his life.
Joan Bonn
April 6, 2021
Karen and Jim have been guardian angels in my life for over 30 years. The friendship and support were unique and heartfelt. God truly blessed us with them coming to our lives. All who knew Jim, I am sure, felt the same way. His spirit touched us all in ways that will never be forgotten. I have tried to live my life of paying it forward because of Jim’s lessons in caring for others. A blessing in life that keeps in giving.
Inga Holmes
March 30, 2021
Karen:
These are the things you already know, but Jim was such a powerful force of faith and wisdom. I felt his kindness and generosity in my early teenage and adult years as a rock in my life since 30years ago. The way he has faithfully maintained his relationship with my mother and I was appreciated more than words can say. He is an inspiration for us all and will NEVER be forgotten. His suffering has ended and he is now in the hands of the one that will certainly give him peace. We mourn for you and your loss....
Inga