Obituary of James Ralph Ziemba

James Ralph Ziemba, age 85, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at his home in Martinsville. He was born in Simpson, PA and lived in Iselin for 55 years before moving to Martinsville six years ago. He received both his BA and MBA from Rutgers University. Prior to his retirement, Mr. Ziemba was a Special Agent for the IRS and the Director of Internal Affairs for the NY State Dept. of Taxation and Finance. He was a former Communicant of St. Cecelia's Church in Iselin where he was also a Trustee, Lector and for many years the Chairman of the Iselin Fair. He was a 3rd and 4th Degree Member of the Knights of Columbus Council 3639 in Iselin. He is a current Communicant of Blessed Sacrament Church. Mr. Ziemba was active in the Iselin community as a Cubmaster, a Little League Coach and a CYO basketball coach for many years. He was a proud and active member of the Father's Club at St. Joseph High School in Metuchen and St. Thomas Aquinas High School, now Bishop Ahr High School in Edison. He enjoyed getting together regularly with his IRS retired agent friends. He avidly followed Notre Dame football, Duke basketball & baseball and Georgetown swimming but he was most passionate about following his grandchildren's activities throughout the years. Mr. Ziemba is predeceased by his brother, Walter J. Ziemba, his nephew, Walter J Ziemba, Jr., his niece, Ellen Thorton and sister-in-law, Frances Ziemba He is survived by his wife, Lillian Kochever Ziemba; his children, Donna Stark and her husband, Gene and Jim Ziemba and his wife, Maureen; his grandchildren, Laura Bai and her husband, Matthew, Jamie Stark, James Ziemba and Mary Ziemba and his first great-grandchild, Charlotte Lynne Bai who was born 10 hours before her great- grandfather passed away. He is also survived by his brother, Jerry Ziemba and many nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews. A visitation will be held on Sunday, November, 4th from 2 to 6 pm at Higgins Home for Funerals, 752 Mountain Blvd. Funeral services will begin on Monday at 9 am at the funeral home followed by a 10 am Funeral Mass at Blessed Sacrament Church. Committal prayers will be held at Somerset Hills Memorial Park. In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to St. John's Soup Kitchen, PO Box 200147, Newark, NJ 07102 or to the charity of your choice.