ROSAMOND, CA-James Burleigh Steffen Jr. age 55 formerly of Mohawk, passed away on Sunday, November 22, 2015 in Rosamond. He was born on June 16, 1960, in Herkimer, son of the late Henry William Steffen Jr. and Nancy Ruth Steffen. James was raised in Mohawk and graduated from Mohawk High School with the class of 1978. He then attended Ohio Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, he went to work for Dresser Atlas in Texas in the oil fields. But aviation was his passion, so he moved to Daytona Beach, Florida to attend Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Following his graduation he worked for Boeing Aircraft in Hurlbert AFV in Florida, as an Avionic contractor on the Lockheed AC-130 Gunships. He then worked as a sub-contractor to Lockheed Martin on the offensive/defensive warfare systems for the C-130J program. In 1999, he moved to Rockford, IL, starting his own company, working as a sub-contractor for Sunstrand Corporation, where he worked on cockpit avionic systems for regional airliner development RJ-50/75 jetliner (Canadian). In 2002 he moved to Georgia where he worked for Lockheed Martin on the C-130J Program on the offensive/defensive warfare systems. He moved to Cambridge, England in 2005, living there for eight years while working for Lockheed Martin as a Lead Systems Engineer Liaison with Marshall Aerospace supporting the Royal Air Force C130J for the operational/maintenance and upgrade programs. In 2013 he moved to Rosamond. CA, to work at Lockheed Martin at Edwards AFB as an Electronic Warfare Systems Engineer on the F-35 Advanced Fighter Flight Test Program. James had many interests and hobbies including: flying, hiking and cycling. Among his life achievements were: hiking MT. Kilimanjaro, Mt. Whitney and to the base camp of Mt. Everest. James had many friends around the world through his professional career and through Flying Kites where he hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro. He was loved by everyone who knew him. James loved life and touched the lives of everyone he met. He will be sadly missed. Surviving him are his siblings, Melissa Everson of Valencia. CA, Mary Ellen Bellman of Garden Grove, CA, William Steffen of Mohawk, Susan Kenyon of Cassville along with several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins. Besides his parents, Henry W. Steffen Jr. and Nancy Ruth Steffen, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, Robert and Ruth Casadonte, Henry William Steffen Sr. and Beatrice Steffen. Calling hours for Mr. Steffen will be on Saturday December 5th from 10:00 to 11:00 am in Fenner Funeral Home, Inc., 115 Court Street; Herkimer. Funeral service will follow immediately after at 11:00 am in the funeral Home. Interment will take place in the Mohawk Cemetery Annex. As an alternative to flowers, expressions of sympathy may be made with memorial donations in memory of James B. Steffen to: Flying Kites on line at: www.flyingkites.org or mailed to 51 Melcher Street; Boston, MA, 02210 or to Carousel Ranch-Equestrian Therapy for Disabled Children, www.carouselranch.org or mailed to 34289 Rocking Horse Road, Santa Clarita, CA 91390-3482. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home. Calling Hours Fenner Funeral Home Saturday, December 5, 2015 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM 115 Court Street Herkimer, NY 13350 Funeral Service Fenner Funeral Home Saturday, December 5, 2015 11:00 AM 115 Court Street Herkimer, NY 13350