James "John" Rubar II, 71, passed away on Sunday, October 21, 2018 at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse with his family at his side.
A funeral mass will be held on Thursday, October 25th at 11:00 am at St. James Catholic Church, Gouverneur with Fr. Shane Lynch officiating and burial in East Riverside Cemetery, Gouverneur. Calling hours are on Wednesday from 2:00 to 4:00 and 7:00 to 9:00 pm at the Green Funeral Home, Gouverneur.
John was born in Gouverneur on March 29, 1947, the son of James and Margaret Bullard Rubar.
He graduated from Gouverneur High School and served in the U.S. National Guard.
John was a member of U.A. Local Pipefitters Union 73 and worked for B & S Industrial for over 30 years as a welder, pipefitter, and steamfitter. He was highly instrumental in maintaining the papermills, cogeneration plants, mines, and nuclear plants of the area. John was revered as one of the best in the industry.
He was a member of Pine Tree Hunting Club, Oswegatchie Hunting Club, and his family camp in Croghan. An avid outdoorsman, John enjoyed fishing, hunting, feeding wildlife, and trapping, especially coyotes. He also played fastpitch softball in his youth and more recently, enjoyed watching his grandchildren grow up, loved playing cards and working foodplots.
John had 4 children from a previous marriage.
John is survived by his companion of 30 years Cora Jeanne McCarthy, his children Shannon Cook and fiance Ken Hurlbut of Massena, John M. and Bridget Rubar of Constantia, Heather and Chad Soper of Fowler, Barbara and Eric Cadwell of Watertown, Stacey and Sean Devlin of Gouverneur, Amanda and Bill Pickering of Madrid, Shannon and Mark Tilbe of Brookfield, a brother William Rubar of South Carolina, several grandchildren, great grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is predeceased by his parents and a sister Kathleen DeLorme.
Memorial donations in John's memory may be made to the Gouverneur Vol. Fire Dept., PO Box 268, Gouverneur, NY 13642 or the American Lung Association.