James Mathias Kiefer, recently of Warfordsburg, PA, died at his home on Saturday, April 15, 2023, of pancreatic cancer at the age of 73. Born on October 17, 1949, in Chicago, IL, he was the son of the late James Mathias Kiefer, Sr., and Elisabeth Speer Kiefer of Toms River, NJ.

Jim earned a BS in chemistry in 1971 from Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. Following his graduation, his profound love of both learning and teaching led him to spend four years with the Peace Corps in Ghana, Africa, where he taught science and mathematics in a secondary school. After his return to the states, he earned advanced degrees from Rutgers University and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies in Washington, DC. He then completed his PhD in Economics at Johns Hopkins University. He went on to work as an economist for the Congressional Budget Office, the Vermont State Government and, lastly, for the U.S. Postal Service.

Wherever he lived, Jim sought out opportunities to pass on things he had learned. In Vermont, he taught economics as an adjunct professor. As a devout Christian, Jim combined teaching with his love for God by volunteering as an English as a second language teacher through Truro Church in Fairfax, VA. He really enjoyed meeting people from all around the world and sharing his home and meals with the people he met through the program. Jim was an excellent cook, always eager to sample and learn how to make new dishes from a variety of cuisines. His love of travel also provided many opportunities to add interesting dishes from each country he visited to his multiple recipe boxes.

One of Jim's later learning challenges came when he moved to a farm in Ulysses, PA in 2008. Although he was not raised on a farm, he taught himself the skills to run a 101-acre farm. He bred and raised sheep and goats, and learned to deliver lambs and kids, hay fields, tap maple trees, and boil the sap down to make maple syrup. He also raised pigs, turkeys, ducks, cows, and chickens, allowing the family to became almost food self-sufficient between the livestock they raised and food that they canned from their vegetable garden, fruit trees, and bushes. During this time, he also devoted himself to the study of the Bible, and led in-depth Bible studies for family and friends. Jim retired from farming in 2021 and later moved to Warfordsburg, PA, in order to be closer to his family.

Jim's two greatest loves were God and his family. He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Jacalyn Malaguerra, and his step-sons; Seth Malaguerra, his wife Laura Stein Malaguerra, and their three children Asher, Silas, and Iliana; Colin Malaguerra, his wife Summer Claveau Malaguerra and their daughter Mara. He is also survived by three sisters, two brothers and a multitude of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews who all loved him dearly.

In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory can be made to PanCAN (Pancreatic Cancer Action Network) at www.pancan.org or to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at www.stjude.org .

Jim's funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Saturday, May 6, at New Creation Church (Anglican), 20 S. Prospect Street, Hagerstown, Maryland, 21740. A luncheon will follow at the church. www.agettlakjer.com