James K. "Jim" Steidle

James K. “Jim” Steidle, 79, of Pottsville, longtime teacher and coach at Pottsville Area High School, died Friday, April 21st, surrounded by his family, at Linden Village Memory Care Facility, Lebanon where he had been a resident for the past 17 months.

 

Jim was born November 19, 1943 in Pottsville a son of the late Lloyd H. Sr. and Alma Deibler Steidle.

 

He was a 1961 graduate of Pottsville High School where he played baseball and basketball. He graduated from West Chester University and returned to Pottsville where he began his 45-year teaching and coaching career for Pottsville Area High School, prior to retiring.

 

Between 1968 and 2010, he coached varsity baseball, amassing a record of 574 victories, including 7 Schuylkill League and 4 District 11 Championships. Simultaneously, for 15 years, he coached varsity basketball, recording 277 wins 7 Schuylkill League and 3 District 11 Championships. He was personally most proud to have mentored 7 young men towards signing major league baseball contracts, and being immortalized by having the Pottsville Area High School baseball field named in his honor

 

Jim was member of the Pottsville Area High School All Sports Hall of Fame and the District 11 Hall of Fame.

 

He was preceded in death by his step-mother, Catherine Ash Steidle; 2 brothers, Lloyd H. Steidle, Jr., and Bobby Steidle.

 

Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Marilyn Lamb “Lynn” Steidle, a former Philadelphia girl who had no knowledge of or interest in sports but married into the family anyway. Together they raised 3 children, James Tyler “Ty” Steidle and his wife Lindsey, Pottsville; Michael Steidle and his wife Diedre, Katy, TX; Elizbeth “Beth” Ciavarella, and her husband Harry, Pottsville; grandchildren AJ, Emily, Zane and Maddie Steidle, Pottsville; Aiden and Noah Steidle, Katy, TX; Harrison, Ava and Alexandra Ciavarella, Pottsville; a step-sister, Rev. Kathleen Ash-Flashner, Maine; a step-brother, William Ash, New Tripoli; nieces and nephews.

 

Jim’s family would like to acknowledge and thank his caregivers at Linden Village, where he was affectionately known as “Coach” for their unconditional love and expectational care they provided to him during his residency there and his final transition.

 

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated 11AM Saturday, May, 6th at St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. Family and friends are invited to a visitation from 9-10:45AM at the church. The family would prefer remembrances in the form of contributions in memory of Jim be made to the James K. Steidle Memorial Fund, C/O Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center, 1501 Laurel Blvd Pottsville, PA 17901. Interment will follow in Calvary Cemetery, Pottsville. Arrangements are under the care of James E. Humphrey Funeral Home, Pottsville.

 

Please share your memories and condolences with Jim’s family by signing the guest book at www.jehumphreyfuneralhome.com