James E. “Crusher” Wehr

January 30, 2018 Last Updated: January 30, 2018 10:45 AM Death Notice

James E. “Crusher” Wehr passed away Thursday from heart complications.

He was born in Butler to Carl Wehr and Dorthy Crissman Wehr on July 15, 1946.

Jim was in the last graduating class of Zelienople High School. He really enjoyed the 50th class reunion, celebrated in 2014 with a float in the Zelienople Fourth of July parade.

He worked at Eisler's Nursery, earning enough money to purchase his first car for $95. On the same day, he was offered jobs at Armco, Pullman Standard and a bank. He chose Armco, where he earned his name “Crusher” by lifting and throwing heavy materials into the open hearth. Jim worked his way up the ladder in the melt shop to become supervisor of the melt shop and furnace floor. He did not brag about that. Jim always considered his co-workers as friends and was always up for a good prank, even at his own expense. Armco was his life. He always said the hardest part of his job was getting there.

In addition to working 50 years at Armco, he worked 23 years at Montgomery Ward Auto Center as an evening manager. His favorite line was, “Don't worry, I'll fix you up.” He also drove a school bus for 45 years. Jim considered it his hobby. Students that he drove as children are now parents and grandparents. Many Armco people were also his students and one claimed that Jim always made him cry.

If you knew Jim, you knew all about Petey, his Labradoodle and best friend. Jim had 17 jobs to do a day and Petey was always with him. He said he was walking the dog when they were riding in the truck together.

Surviving are his wife of 38 years, Bonnie Shaffer Wehr; his daughter, Laurel Shaffer; his son, Brenton Allison; his sisters, Sandra Nebel and Debra (Roy) Zimmerman; his brothers, William (Jan), John (Kathy) and Thomas (Shelly) Wehr; his in-laws, Bruce (Christine) Shaffer, Brenda Rathman and Brice (Tammie) Shaffer; many special nieces and nephews; and his children, James and Michele, also survive.

A special thanks to his good friends, Jac Curzi and his brother, Bill.

WEHR — Friends of James E. “Crusher” Wehr, who died Thursday, Dec. 28, 2017, will be received from 3 until 9 p.m. Saturday at the Boylan Funeral Home & Cremation Center of Connoquenessing Township, 856 Evans City Road, Renfrew. A gathering will follow.Memorial donations may be made in his honor to the Portersville/Prospect Food Bank, P.O. Box 102, Portersville, PA 16051, or to a local food bank of your choice.Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.boylanfuneralservices.com.