James Pelkey

Jimmy Pelkey, my Dad was only 41 years old when he died from malignant melanoma.  He left behind myself 18, James 17, and Frank 13.  He had a big heart and loved my sisters Helga and Angelica from my mothers 2nd marriage.  He was serving in the US Army in Schweinfurt, Germany where he met and married my Mom, Helga, his true love.  He was told in 1954 by an Army doctor that he should have a dark mole removed from his back.  He didn’t until 1970 when it was oozing blood.  The surgeon removed the mole and tissue the size of a baseball from his back and lymph nodes from there around to his breast and had the nipple removed.  He maintained a positive attitude through his many severe treatments and radiation.  A true warrior, he fought a courageous and long battle and I remember him saying “You don’t know how lucky you are to be able to go outside and look at the blue sky.”  He loved summer, baseball, basketball, picnics with family and friends.  His nickname was Big Jim.  I remember his love for music and he enjoyed playing the accordion.  He had an amazing sense of humor and was loved by many.  Sadly, he never got to see his 7 grandchildren, 4 great grandchildren and yet another to be born this year.