James Ellis Bodmer was born in Evanston, IL on February 4, 1933 and passed away at home, in Amherst, MA on May 6, 2022.

James was an Airman 1^st class in the United States Air Force. He served in the Philippines during the Korean War. He graduated from the University of Houston with degrees in Mathematics and Electrical Engineering. After graduation, he joined NASA where he worked on Gemini and Apollo missions and on Spacelab 1 and 2 missions.

After retiring, Jim took up backpacking. He hiked the John Muir Trail in CA and TN., the C&O Canal Trail, the Appalachian Trail, the Iron Mountain Trail, the Colorado Trail, the Long Trail, and the Superior Hiking Trail. It was on the trail that he earned his moniker “Jimmy Bee.”

Jim was an active member of St. Matthews Church in Konnarock, Va. He moved to Amherst in 2003 and transferred membership to Immanuel Lutheran Church.

Jim loved working with wood. He built his own small shop at the cottage in Goshen where he made a variety of furniture and lots of pens. He spent so much time in his shop that it was referred to as “Jim’s Den.”

Jim is survived by his wife, Anne Mathieson, two brothers, Jerry Bodmer (Kathy) of Huntington Beach, CA and Joe Bodmer of New Caney, TX; a son, Anthony Bodmer of Houston, TX, two sisters in law, Carol Mathieson of Dunedin, FL and Marjory Bowser of Hudson, Fl; a niece, Kelly Nott of Utah and two nephews, Ryan Bodmer of CA and Edward Holben of TX. He was predeceased by his sister, Helen “DeeDee” Bean, a son James Bodmer Jr. and step brother, Edward Holben.

There will be a visiting hour at Douglass Funeral Service on Friday, May 13^th from 10am-11am, followed by a graveside ceremony at the South Amherst Cemetery. Memorial guestbook at www.douglassfuneral.com