James "JF" Franklin Reckard, Jr.

James Franklin “J.F.” Reckard Jr., 76, of Fairchance, passed away at home on Monday, March 20, 2023. He is preceded in death by his parents, the late Ruby Bucklew and James F. Reckard, Sr.

 J.F. is survived by his High School Sweetheart, the love of his life, and wife of 56 years, Karen (Kukla) Reckard; daughter, Lynn ( Jim ) Rose of Murrysville, PA; son, James (Marla) Reckard III of Bel Air, MD; son Derek (Kristen) Reckard of Jefferson Hills, PA; son, Pete (Amanda) Reckard of Bowling Green, KY;  grandchildren: Justin (Denise) and Alyssa Rose; Malia (Alec) Tebbe, Haley and James Reckard IV, Marina, T.J. and Tessa Reckard, Patrick, Lilah and Kye Reckard; great-granddaughter, Anne Marie Rose; sister, Beverly Pastorius; brother, Duane (Shelley) Reckard; sister in law, Patricia Joseph; brother in law Bob (Unna) Kukla;  many nieces and nephews. 

J.F. was born in Uniontown on February 15, 1947 and grew up in Collier.  He was a 1965 graduate of Fairchance-Georges High School, where he excelled at football, basketball and baseball.

He earned a Bachelor of Science in Secondary education with a focus on Earth and Physical Science from California State College in 1969.  He was a teacher for 35 years in the Albert Gallatin School District serving at Point Marion Jr High, Fairchance Georges Jr/Sr. High, Tri Valley and Albert Gallatin Senior High Schools.    

J.F. was a longtime head and assistant coach for the school district, coaching boys and girls Basketball, Football and Baseball, winning section championships in multiple years.  He was especially proud of his 1979 and 1980 Section 16 Championship Baseball Teams and 1983-1987 Section 11 Champion Girls Basketball Teams.   He led multiple teams to WPIAL playoff appearances.  

He was also an accomplished carpenter.  As Co-Owner of Reckard-Eicher Construction Co., he built many homes in the Fairchance area, and taught his boys the meaning of hard work, laboring beside him all summer long on numerous roofing jobs, remodels, additions and other construction projects.

Of all the things in his life, he was probably most proud of his children and their families. He would say   ”When he signed on to be a Dad, he signed on for life”.  He instilled in them a scientific mindset, and all followed in his footsteps into science related fields.  His own father worked tirelessly to instill in him the importance of what an education can do for you.

Friends and family will be received at the Goldsboro – Fabry Funeral Home, Inc., 21 E. Church Street, Fairchance, PA on Thursday, March 23 from 2-4pm and 6-8pm.  Friday March 24th from 10-11am, followed by a funeral service.  Interment at St. Joseph Cemetery, Fairchance, PA

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or The Wounded Warrior Project.