James Szlemko

Oct. 30, 1935 – Sept. 1, 2024

James Szlemko, 88, known by most as Jim, passed away on September 1, 2024, in Helena, Montana. 

Jim was born on October 30, 1935, in Chester, Pennsylvania. He was raised in a Ukrainian community and was the oldest of four children. 

As a boy growing up in rural Pennsylvania he played baseball, basketball and golf and was part of the auto mechanics club. He graduated from Nether Providence High School in 1953. He joined the United States Marine Corps in 1955; he served honorably for four years and achieved the rank of sergeant. 

After serving his country, Jim moved to Alaska in 1960, where he lived for the next 38 years. While in the Last Frontier, Jim worked as an assistant game warden, a farm hand and a supervisor at a lumber yard. 

He met and married his wife, Alana Tillett, of Lovell and raised a son and daughter. As a young man living in Alaska, Jim could be found enjoying the great outdoors by hunting, fishing and foraging. He also enjoyed woodworking, gardening and coaching his children’s various sports teams. 

Jim moved to Lovell with his wife in 1998 and quickly became part of the community. In his later years he enjoyed crossword puzzles, watching sports (always rooting for the underdog), swapping stories, telling jokes and, of course, writing letters to the editor. People who knew Jim best knew of his humor and generous nature. He was a man of few words but spoke with wisdom, kindness and humor.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Alana (Tillett) Szlemko, and son William Szlemko. 

He is survived by his daughter, Jaimee Szlemko. 

No services will be held as Jim wished.