James VanDeventer, born on October 5, 1939, in Doylestown, Ohio, passed away peacefully from heart failure on March 24, 2025. He earned his Bachelor's degree at BGSU and Master's degree in geology from the University of Akron. As a dedicated educator, Jim devoted 33 years of his life teaching middle school science in the Akron Public Schools, inspiring countless students with his passion for learning and the natural world.

An avid golfer and lover of the great outdoors, Jim found joy in exploring nature and traveling to new places. His enthusiasm for geology was evident in his extensive collection of rocks and fossils, which he cherished and shared with family. Jim also had a talented voice and sang in several choirs throughout his life. He will be remembered for his hard work, strong will, great sense of humor, and deep support for his family.

Jim was a loving husband to his wife, Joan, of 64 years; a proud father to his children Susan (Mark) Smith, Brian (Jill) VanDeventer, and Paul (Lori) VanDeventer; a fun-loving grandfather to Jacob, Kyle, Rachel, Sarah-Rowan, Morgan, Monica, Nick; and great-grandchildren Carson and Wren, all whom will forever hold dear the memories of their time spent with him.

A celebration of life will be held in Florida at Celebration Baptist Church, 25321 US Hwy 27, Suite 101, Leesburg, FL 34748 on Thursday, April 10 at 10:30am, where friends and family are invited to gather and share their memories.