Obituary of James C. Varble

James "Jim" C. Varble died Tuesday, December 5th 2023 after a short, but honorable, bat­tle with aggressive bladder cancer. He was 76 years old. Summarizing his life in a few paragraphs is a challenge, given that he had more businesses, inventions, and job titles than is realistic for one person. To name a few: American Eagle Stoves creator, New York Dwarf Car Association founder, race car driver, welder, volunteer firefighter, Gone Racin’ store owner, field technician for RDP Technologies, welding teacher/mentor, entrepreneur, scuba diver, and more. Working was such a part of his life, and it allowed him to travel the world and build deep friendships with so many. Each endeavor offered a way to use his incredible engineering mind, ability to construct, and artistic creativity in fulfilling ways. However he will most be remembered as a famously mustached and handsome man who came home from work, took off his steel-toed boots, and danced with the love of his life, Cheryl, in the kitchen. Persistence led him there. After first setting eyes on her, he pursued her with characteristic single-mindedness, giving every man who looked her way the side-eye. In an effort to woo her, he even treated her mother to breakfasts. They lived a glorious life, and their children are still learning its secrets, which include run-ins with the Coast Guard. He put his older kids in his welding shop, sweeping and painting—teaching and creating the next generation of strong women. (Still, he could send them back upstairs to change with only a finger point and an eyebrow raise.) He made his younger kids eat Le Sueur peas—though never in a casserole—and disallowed flip-flops and sweatpants in public. He always owned big dogs and made a safe haven for every wild animal that lived in his yard, which fostered a deep love of nature in all of his children. He spent many hours meticulously maintaining that yard, too—just ask his sons-in-law how to mow a lawn. He spoiled his grandchildren with endless ice cream trips, poop jokes, and every flavor of chip ever created. To convince him to blow up any pool inflatable, all it took was a simple whine. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Noah "Sam" & Geraldine Varble. He is survived by his sisters Pat (Don) Setter and Sue (Jack) Wiesmore; his wife Cheryl Varble; daughters Michelle Varble, Kimberly (Tom) Duehring, Deanna Varble (Matt Bielewicz), Jaime (Jarrett) Boyes; grandchildren Bree, Alex, Kaitlyn, Nicholas, Robert (Lindsay), Derronntay (Dawn), Brinley, Blakely, Jack, Ian, Loren, Gabriel; and 7 great-grandchildren; all of whom he inspired to be the world’s leaders, problem solvers, worker-bees, garden hose-curlers, and kind-hearted (if a little anxious) control freaks. Having been loved by him is one of the greatest gifts of their lives. A Celebration of Life, as dictated by the man himself, will be held Sunday, December 10th from 4-7pm at the Clarence Center Fire Hall at 9415 Clarence Center Rd, Clarence Center, NY 14032. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that a donation in memory of Jim Varble be made to Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center where he and his family received incredible compassionate care.