Canadice : James Lynn Kersting, 78 passed away peacefully on November 5, 2024 after a year-long struggle with cancer. He was born in Jackson, MN on June 12, 1946 to George and Charlotte Kersting. Jim is survived by his wife of 44 years, Sara, his daughter Rachel (Kersting) Luyben, his granddaughters Alison and Emma, and his brother Paul and sisters Kathy and Patrice. He is preceded in death by his parents and his son-in-law Marc Luyben.
Jim moved to Rochester, NY in 1972 to work as a counselor at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf at the Rochester Institute of Technology. He was a lifelong outdoorsman and spent his weekends hiking, cross-country skiing, backpacking, and camping in the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks. After he retired, Jim became an avid cyclist and toured the United States from coast to coast several times. He said he loved to see the country at 20 miles an hour.
Jim also cherished his time at home on the land that he shared with his wife, Sara. An excellent bowhunter, he could patiently sit for hours in a tree, waiting for the perfect buck. Jim’s care for the natural environment extended to many years of volunteer service with the Finger Lakes Land Trust, where he worked to protect the beauty of the region. He also volunteered at the Hospeace House, providing comfort and care to patients and families.
Jim was a loving husband, a great dad, a fantastic Papa, a caring brother, and a thoughtful friend.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Hospeace House http://hospeace-house-inc.networkforgood.com/ or Finger Lakes Land Trust http://fllt.org/give
A Celebration of Life will be held at 2 PM on January 17th, 2025 at the Lakeville United Church of Christ, 5687 Big Tree Road, Lakeville, NY 14480. To share a memory or a condolence, please visit www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com