HERKIMER-James William Spanfelner age 89 passed away peacefully on Sunday morning, March 18, 2018 in Little Falls Hospital. He was born on October 26, 1928 in Herkimer, son of the late George P. and Helen Mahoney Spanfelner. A lifelong Herkimer resident, he graduated from Herkimer High School with the class of 1946. During his high school years he was an outstanding three-season athlete in football, basketball and track. An honorably discharged US Army veteran he served with the 28th infantry in Germany during the Korean War. He was discharged in 1952 attaining the rank of Sergeant First Class. On October 17, 1953 he was united in marriage to the former Jacqueline Drabent in Saint Josephs Church, Herkimer. They shared a loving and devoted union of nearly 57 years until her passing on September 3, 2010. Mr. Spanfelner owned and operated Span Oil Company in Herkimer until 1971. Jim had also served as Town of Herkimer Councilman and then Supervisor from 1966 to 1971. In 1971 he was appointed Clerk of the Herkimer County Legislature and became the first Director of Real Property Tax Services for the County beginning in 1974. He retired in 1992. He had a strong faith in God and was a parishioner of Saint Francis de Sales Church. To those who knew him, he was a caring, honest and friendly man with a wonderful sense of humor. Any conversation with him was warm and engaging and one always felt a sense of kinship whenever you were with him. He will be sadly missed by his many friends and family especially his cherished children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren. Surviving are three sons, Kevin of Vestal, Mickey (Amy) of Fayetteville, John (Robin) of Little Falls, and his daughter Kathleen Kane of Lawrenceville,GA; two brothers, Merrill of Herkimer, Joseph and his companion Cornelia Vitigliano of Utica, a sister-in-law, Mary Jane Spanfelner of Lafayette, CO. Ten grandchildren, Allison (Kristopher) Katarski, Andrew (Elizabeth) Kane, Amy (Anthony) Larson, Heather Spanfelner, Douglas Spanfelner, Patrick Spanfelner, Walter Ostasz (Amanda), Sarah Chandler, Aaron (Kristina)Teska, and Ryan (Cassandra) Teska. Eight great-grandchildren, Alex and Matt Larson, Rio and Carter Teska, Ryan, Jr. and Silas Teska, Isabella, Elijah, Gabriella, and Abigail Chandler, several nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents and wife Jacqueline, he was preceded in death by his brother Lynn, infant sister, Marion Rose, granddaughter, Jennifer Lynne Kane, and sister-in-law Shirley Spanfelner. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at 10:00 AM in Saint Francis deSales Church, Herkimer with the Reverend Mark Cunningham, pastor officiating. Entombment with military honors provided the US Army will be later this spring in Calvary Cemetery. Expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations to the American Heart Association, 120 Lomond Court, Utica, NY 13502 or the American Diabetes Association, 6390 Fly Road, East Syracuse, NY 13050. Funeral arrangements are with Fenner Funeral Home, Inc. Herkimer. Mass of Christian Burial St. Francis deSales Church Friday, March 23, 2018 10:00 AM N. Bellinger Street Herkimer, NY 13350