James E. Keller, 84, of Russell, died Saturday, January 28, 2017 at UPMC Hamot Medical Center of Erie, PA, following a brief illness.  Jim was born August 11, 1932, in Buffalo, NY. He is the son of the late Elmer and Amelia (Miller) Keller.

Jim was a 1950 graduate of West Seneca Central High School, West Seneca, NY.  He was employed as an apprentice brick layer at Bethlehem Steel in Buffalo NY, for approximately four years before moving to Swede Hill Road, in Russell, where he remained the rest of his life. He was known by many people in the area as a result of his career delivering propane for Satterlund Bottled Gas Company and the Protane Bottled Gas Company.  Jim then worked for 20 years at National Fuel Gas Company, retiring in 1986. His duties there also included repairing gas appliances for many, many families.

He was a former founding member of the Y-Bar-U Saddle Club, the Russell Volunteer Fire Department, and the our Lady of Victory R.C. Church, and since the merger, the St. James Roman Catholic Church of Jamestown, NY.  He enjoyed model airplanes, golfing, hunting,  and his life's summers, boating and fishing at Chautauqua Lake, and spending time with his many friends at local coffee shops.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet Irene Hallowell Keller, whom he married September 4, 1954; four children, Gregg J. Keller, and wife, Shirleen, of Warren, Jeffery L. Keller, and wife, Dawn, of Russell, Kim K. Mazur, and husband, Jim, of Lockport, NY, and James J. Keller and longtime companion Nancy Ray, Colorado Springs, CO; 6 grandchildren, Katelyn Tythair. Jenna Ross, and Toby Keller, Christopher and Cory Keller, and Brandon Mazur; 3 great-grandchildren, Lucas, Illanna and Patrick, Jr.; one sister, Charleen Spicola, of North Collins, NY; and several nieces and nephews.

Friends will be received at the Peterson - Blick Funeral Home, Inc, 1003 Penn Ave., E., Warren, on Thursday, February 2, from 2 to 4 & 6 to 8 p.m.  A vigil service will be conducted there at 5:45 p.m. with Deacon Michael Lennon.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Our Lady of Victory R.C. Church, 6 Institute St, Frewsburg, NY, at 10 a.m., on Friday, February 3, with Fr. Darrell Duffy officiating.  Burial will be in Swede Hill Cemetery, Russell, PA.

In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial contribution should consider the Russell Volunteer Fire Department, 111 Perrigo Ln, Russell, PA 16345. or  a charity of choice.