James Dissinger

James "Jim" R. Dissinger, 82, passed away peacefully on Wed., August 8, 2018 after a lengthy illness. He was the son of the late Richard H. & Frances L. (Rowbotham) Dissinger. He was the husband of Joanne (Buch) Dissinger with whom he celebrated 58 years of marriage on July 23rd. Jim graduated from Upper Leacock High School and received an AAS degree from MSOE in Milwaukee, WI. He served in the U.S. Air Force and then entered the pilot training program having constantly applied to his U.S. Senator for an appointment. Among his many interests, first of all his grandchildren & family, were cooking, magic, art, photography, riding his motorcycle and flying his paraplane in the skies over Brownstown. Jim was a volunteer fireman in his younger days and was past president of the West Earl Fire Company. He also served on the Conestoga Valley School Board & during his term was the President of the Lancaster County Vocation School, now LCCTC. Jim was Santa Claus on the West Earl Fire Truck for over 35 years. On one occasion the firemen got a fire call and left him sitting along the side of the road on his chair. He also served on the board of the Brownstown Cemetery Assoc. Another of his special interests was the New Holland farm show firemans tug-of-war where he was the announcer for 40 years. He also served on the board of the New Holland fair. He was the owner of Dissinger Photography specializing in wedding photography, as well as various photographic assignments. He was the photographer for the Kutztown Folk Festival and past president of the Central Penn Professional Photographers Assoc. He was a member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church in Brownstown where he taught childrens Sunday School and was the Sunday School Superintendent and served as chairman of the Council of Ministries. He also did the brown-bag ministry for children in the morning worship service. Upon leaving college, he was employed by Radiation Inc. of Melbourne, FL where he worked on the LEM (Lunar Excursion Module) that was built for the Apollo space craft. He liked to tell us his finger prints were on the moon. He returned to Lancaster County and was employed by RCA, Lancaster, and then later was employed for 33 years by Hirtech, Inc., Lancaster, selling photographic equipment. He retired in June of 2001. In addition to his wife, he is survived by two children, Dianne Shepherd, wife of Richard of Mountville and David Dissinger, husband of Robin, of Brownstown. He is also survived by seven grandchildren who were much loved, Daniel, Ashley, Alisha, Emily, Justin, Annie, & Patrick; one great grandchild, Brayden; and a sister, Deborah Burkhard, wife of Donald. He was preceded in death by a brother, Jack. A viewing will be held Thurs., Aug. 16 from 10 11 am at Emmanuel United Methodist Church, 11 N. Church St., Brownstown, Pa 17508. Service will begin at 11 am, Pastor Larry Kipp will officiate. Interment will follow in the Brownstown Cemetery. Memorial contributions in memory of Jim to Emmanuel UMC, at the above address or Hospice & Community care, www.hospiceconnect.org/give. Obituary was lovingly written by Jims wife.