James "Jim" Kwarta

James Kwarta ObituaryObituary published on Legacy.com by Hutchens-Stygar Funeral & Cremation Center & Confluence Center on Mar. 16, 2026.James "Jim" Andrew Kwarta (77), of St. Peters, Missouri, passed away at his home on Friday, March 13, 2026, surrounded by his family.Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Irma and Roger Kwarta, grandparent Sarah Jane Catt Potter, and his foster parents Wanda and David "Irv" Shelor, his cousin "Jerry" Catt; sister-in-law Jennifer Beglin; and brothers in law Martin "Marty B" Beglin and Blake Kaelin.Jim is survived by his beloved bride of 54 years, Mary G. Kwarta (née Beglin); five children, Kipp Kwarta, Jared Kwarta (Karen), Nathan Kwarta (Allison), Michelle DuPont (Jason), and Nicole "Nikki" Raithel (Seth); seven grandchildren, Noah Kwarta, Joel Kwarta, and Evan Kwarta, Elise DuPont and Marie DuPont, and Eleanor Raithel and Rosemary Raithel; brother Kim Kwarta, and sisters Tanys Evangelisti (Tom), Felicia Kwarta and his foster sister, Melissa Shelor-Rhoades (Mark Sr.).Jim was a proud veteran of the United States Army, serving from 1969-1971, stationed in Vietnam in the 508th Military Police Battalion in Saigon, and his multiplatform sharp-shooting skills were a particular point of pride.Jim retired from the United States Postal Service in 2008 after 40 years as a Letter Carrier and Vehicle Operations and Maintenance Assistant at the Florissant Post Office.Jim was a devout Catholic, a member of Assumption (O'Fallon) Catholic Church, and he enjoyed coaching basketball and other sports teams for his children and volunteering in many roles at the Assumption Athletic Association, with a particular fondness for helping run the St. Valentine's Day 8th Grade Basketball Tournament each year.An avid hunter, Jim loved to spend time outdoors and particularly enjoyed spending the fall deer season with his family, creating traditions like biscuits and gravy breakfast before dawn. He loved playing billiards and throwing horseshoes, and he was an artist at heart who loved to draw and paint throughout his life.Jim and Mary lived a full life while raising five children, traveling with the family to the Florida Panhandle many times, to Niagara Falls and Cooperstown, and to Ireland twice, among other trips.Jim was immensely proud of his five kids and seven grandchildren and was never happier than when they were all able to get together and fill the house with conversation and laughter.Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 4:00-8:00 pm at Hutchens-Stygar Funeral & Cremation Center, 5987 Mid Rivers Mall Dr., St. Charles, 63304. Mass will be on Friday, March 20, 2026 at 10:30 am at Assumption Catholic Church, with a visitation from 9:30 am until Mass at 10:30 am. Military honors will follow the conclusion of Mass. Memorial contributions have been suggested to the Tunnel To Towers Foundation (t2t.org).To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.