James Clayton Jaskowak

James Clayton Jaskowak (88), of Jackson Center, passed away peacefully on December 11, 2025, at the family home. Born in Mercer on March 20, 1937, to Leonard and Dorothy Jaskowak, James grew up in Jackson Center. He graduated from Mercer Area High School in 1955, where he met his beloved wife and the mother of his four children, Patricia Magargee (wed on October 11, 1957). Drawn to the verdant and vibrant outdoors, James excelled at farming and hunting, competing in the national rifle competition for several years. James worked as a maintenance engineer at Westinghouse, an electrician at Adobe Mining, and later retired from Griffith Electric. He also served as a deputy game warden.

In the early 1960s, James built the family home. Originally small, simple, and comely, the house would require further additions as the family grew. A long walnut table, which comfortably sits his entire ancestral line, was commissioned in 2000. At family functions, James always sat at the head, presiding, both literally and figuratively, as the proud patriarch of the Jaskowak name and household.

Legendary for his sweeping orations, James knew something about everything. Whenever James said, “Now let me just tell you a story,” the family knew that, come hell or highwater, a story would be told—and more often than not, it was a story worth hearing. Some of his favorite stories involved “camp,” where he logged nearly every memory in “the book.” A consummate family man to the end, James always expressed interest in the lives of his eleven grandchildren. He faithfully attended their many sporting events, taught them their family history, and instructed them in the way of the Lord. The latter, most of all, is his greatest and most memorable contribution to the family name, a name, we pray, is now written in the Book of Life.

James is survived by his four children and their spouses (James Jaskowak, Mark and Linda Jaskowak, Charles and Anne Jaskowak, and Valerie Estes); eleven grandchildren and their spouses (Amanda Jaskowak and Carl Engel, James and Bethany Jaskowak, Carrie and Jonathan Keppel; Fr. Maximilian Maria Jaskowak; Daniel and Kyra Jaskowak; Sr. Mary Jaskowak; Zachary Estes; Challen Estes; Ethan Estes; Catherine and Connor Holohan; and Charles Jaskowak); and four great-grandchildren (Alexander Engel, Connor Jaskowak, Eleanor Jaskowak, and Casen Jaskowak). James also leaves behind several siblings and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding James in death is his wife, Patricia, his parents (Leonard Jaskowak and Dorothy Gatewood), his two brothers, Tom and George Egger, his son-in-law, Jesse Estes, and other beloved friends and family.

Visitation will be held from 2:00-4:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm on Tuesday, December 16th and from 10:00-12:00pm on Wednesday, December 17th at ROSE AND BLACK FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, INC. 99 Franklin Street, Stoneboro, PA. A brief service will follow the visiting hours on Wednesday, December 17th at the aforesaid funeral home. James will be laid to rest beside his wife, Patricia, at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Jackson Center.