James Dennis Tesar

Hamptonville - James Dennis Tesar, aged 77, died on March 19, 2018 at the SECU Hospice House in Yadkinville, North Carolina, after a nearly year-long battle with cancer. His funeral service will be on Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at the Yadkinville United Methodist Church by the Rev. Chris Hughes and Dr. Claudia Harrelson. The family will receive friends in the Family Life Center from 1:00 to 2:00 prior to the funeral service in the sanctuary. Burial will be at St. Paul United Methodist Church, Hamptonville, following the funeral service with military rights by the Yadkin VFW Post 10346.  Jim was born on March 21, 1940, in East St. Louis, Illinois, to Anna & James Tesar. He served in the Navy as a medical corpsman, during which time he served as an honor guard corpsman at the inauguration of John F. Kennedy. He was stationed in Key West and was on the USS Forrestal during the Cuban Crisis.   Following his time in the Navy he worked as a salesman while attending night classes, eventually earning a Master’s degree in Healthcare Administration from Washington University in St Louis. He went on to manage hospitals as CEO in Tahlequah, OK, Orlando, FL, Senatobia, MS, Montezuma, GA, and Yadkinville, NC.   It was during his time managing Hoots Hospital in Yadkinville that Jim met the love of his life, Alda.While Jim lived in several states over the course of his career, the common thread in each was his commitment to community. He served on boards, Rotary clubs, and other civic organizations wherever he went. But perhaps the most striking traits to those lucky enough to know him were his dignity, his integrity, his respect for others, and especially his kindness. Jim had the rare gift of being able to find common ground with every person he met, and formed lifelong friendships that stretched well across state lines. He will be missed.Jim his survived by his wife, Alda Macy Tesar, stepson Bruce Vestal and wife, Sarah, and three grandchildren, Bruce, Jr., Timothy, and Ryan Vestal; his sister, Sylvia Howard, of Collinsville, Illinois; niece Laura Randant (Steve), and nephews Stephen Howard and Michael Howard; great-nephews, Nathan Randant, Ian Howard, Michael Howard, and Andrew Howard. And a special brother-in-law and buddy, Billy Macy.If you desire, donations may be made in honor of Jim at Yadkinville United Methodist Church 204 West Main Street Yadkinville, NC. 27055 or St Paul United Methodist Church 2708 Buck Shoals Road, Hamptonville, NC 27020.Gentry Family Funeral Service in Yadkinville is serving the Tesar family. Online condolences can be made at www.gentryfuneralservice.com.