James Robert Wannemacher

James Robert Wannemacher, age 76, of New Britain, PA passed away peacefully on Tuesday, March 3, 2015, in Doylestown Hospital, surrounded by his two loving daughters.Born June 22, 1938 in Pittsburgh, the son of a pastor, Jim was the Valedictorian of his Brentwood High School graduating class in Pittsburgh, PA. He went on to graduate from Penn State University in 1960 where he met his wife, Kathryn R. Wannemacher, whom he married in 1963. He served in the United States Navy as a commissioned officer from 1960 to 1963. He earned an M.A. in City Planning from the University of Pennsylvania in 1965.Inspired by a presentation from the late James Rouse, Jim and his new wife, Kathy, became a "pioneer family" in the new town of Columbia, MD., where Jim worked for the Rouse Company as a project manager, participating in the formation of many of that community's organizations and institutions. He eventually moved on to become senior partner in Land Ventures Associates, also in Maryland.Jim and his family moved to Pacific Palisades, CA in 1980 after accepting an offer to become President of Becket Investment Corporation, a real estate development company, and a board member of Welton Becket Associates, a national architectural firm and the parent of Becket Investment. There he was responsible for the development of an $80 million dollar project called Colorado Place in Santa Monica. In 1984, Jim and his family moved to Bucks County, PA. He and his wife, Kathy, managed the restoration of the 18th century barn in which he resided. Jim served on the Buckingham Township Board of Supervisors while working on revitalization projects on the Eastern Seaboard for the firm Historic Developers of Pennsylvania located in Philadelphia. Brown's Wharf in historic Fell's Point adjacent to Baltimore's Inner Harbor was important to him. He also had enjoyed the New Brunswick Project, revitalizing the area around Rutgers University and the Johnson & Johnson headquarters.Throughout his later professional career, Jim enjoyed the freedom of working in association with various corporate and LLC entities in development and management of landholdings in the Mid-Atlantic region, from Hershey, PA to Lancaster, PA to Hamilton, NJ. Throughout his life and career, Jim maintained and nurtured a vision and kept true to his values for improving the quality of people's lives in an unsuspecting way. He engaged passionately in politics through study and conversation and served on several local city and township boards. His careful study of politics complimented his city planning work by giving him a deeper understanding of what people in the community wanted and needed in their own lives. This gave birth to his desire to write a book someday about improving public spaces, allowing people to connect naturally, and with his respect for history, create a vision of community and city planning that would be lasting for future generations. Jim cared a great deal about people.He will be missed so very much by his daughters, Kara and Amy. After the loss of his wife, Kathy, he was able to spend two precious years with his daughters that they are forever grateful for. Thank you, Dad. Be at peace with the angels. You are always in our hearts.Son of the late Rev. John R. and Eddyth (Albrecht) Wannemacher, brother of the late John E. Wannemacher, and husband for 49 years of the late Kathryn R. (Johnson) Wannemacher (d. January 2013), he is survived by his two daughters, Amy C. Weise of Wrightstown, PA and Kara E. Wannemacher of New Britain, PA, as well as his grandchildren Angie, Craig and Brent.Funeral services were held in a private service led by Rev. Dr. Robert Linders on Tuesday, March 10, 2015. Donations in honor of James R. Wannemacher can be made to : St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 301 N. Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901; www.doylestownlutheran.org Arrangements were entrusted to the care of the J. Allen Hooper Funeral Chapel, Morrisville, PA (www.hooperfuneralchapel.com) .

Graveside Service
Services will be held privately for family only.
Doylestown Cemetery
Court Street
Doylestown PA