James Edward Friedrichsen, Jr.

James Edward “Jim” Friedrichsen Jr, 79, of Massillon, peacefully passed away on October 8, 2023 at Mercy Medical, following a brief illness to be reunited with his beloved wife Penny.

He was born on July 12, 1944 as the eldest child to the late James E. and Marguerite E. (Painter) Friedrichsen Sr of Massillon, OH.

Jim was a loving and supportive husband and father, the anchor (or more appropriately in this case the anvil) of his family. Jim & Penny were very active in the Marriage Encounter Movement and in the process, they forged many lifelong friends. Throughout his life he did anything and everything needed to support his family. And by the end he was able to live out his dream of being a working blacksmith by owning and operating Iron Orchid Forge.

Jim is survived by his loving children, James E. (Martha) Friedrichsen III, Ph.D. and Danielle M. (Toby) Karyadi, Ph.D.; grandchildren, Ben, Sammy, Missy, Jacky, Caitlin, Xavier, and Tristan; and siblings, Patricia S. (Joe) Wahl, Russel R. (Peggy) Friedrichsen, James V. Bomba and Marcy R. Doerflinger. Aunt Alice L. Manhart, Uncle Ralph L. Cozzoli Jr, along with many close cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Barbara A. "Penny" (Ackerman) Friedrichsen; and siblings, Harold J. "Bud" Friedrichsen and Margaret K. "Peggy" Bomba.

The family will receive friends at the Paquelet Funeral Home, Massillon from 6-8 p.m. on October 20, 2023.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on October 21, 2023 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church. Burial will follow in Calvary Cemetery.

Memorials are suggested to the Sancta Clara Monastery (www.poorclares.org).

Messages of condolence and support may be sent to the family at www.paquelet.com