James Brodt Obituary

James (Jim) W. Brodt, 78, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family on Thursday, April 17th, 2025, at United Zion Retirement Community in Lititz, PA. Born in Phillipsburg, NJ, Jim was the son of the late Blaine and Mary (Kaske) Brodt, and loving husband of the late Jean (Fasnacht) Brodt.

Jim was a Pen Argyl High School graduate who later furthered his education with a Master’s Degree from Kutztown University in Library Science. He worked as a middle school Librarian at Flemington-Raritan Middle School for 34 years. He served on the Washington, NJ Public Library Board, NJEA, and Retired Teachers Organization. He was a member of St. Lukes Lutheran Church, Washington, NJ and Trinity Lutheran Church, Ephrata, PA. Jim was also involved in many organizations including Cocalico Valley Historical Society, Past Master of the F&M Mansfield #36 (NJ) and member Ephrata #665 (PA) Masonic Lodges, Scottish Rite, and the Ephrata Lions Club. He enjoyed the chase of searching and finding old postcards and Nabisco memorabilia which led him to being in multiple committees for Lancaster County and Lehigh Valley Postcard Clubs and Nabisco collectors club. In his free time, Jim was an avid reader of various genres, and an all-around punny guy! He enjoyed tending to his gardens and traveling, especially to Rehoboth Beach, DE with his family.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth (Beth) Semonsky, and her husband Sean of Tucson, AZ, and his son Jeremy Brodt and his wife Mali of Newton, MA. He is cherished in memory by his five grandchildren, Elliot and Simon Semonsky, and Persephone, Manon, and Reyna Brodt.

He is lovingly remembered by his sisters Jacquelynn Suggs, husband Bill, of Columbia, NJ, Kathleen Tilwick, late husband James, of Placitas, NM, and sister-in-law Jo Snavely, husband Gary, of Ephrata, PA, nephews Michael DeRenzis, and Damion Frye, and niece Rachel Snavely-Merhaut.

A celebration of life service will take place in summer, 2025.

The family would like to express their heartfelt gratitude for the staff at United Zion Retirement Community and Caring Hospice for their exceptional care.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are appreciated to the Historical Society of the Cocalico Valley, https://www.cocalicovalleyhs.org/support-us; Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, www.imaginationlibrary.com; Reach Out & Read, www.reachoutandread.org; or First Book, www.firstbook.org.