James "Jim" Thomas Peters

James "Jim" Thomas Peters, 52, of Perrysburg, Ohio, passed away unexpectedly on July 29, 2026. He was born on July 29, 1974 in Tampa, Florida to Mildred and James Peters.

Throughout his life, and in his final days, Jim practiced kindness, patience, discipline, but most importantly, love for those around him and Christ.

As a young man, Jim enlisted into the Marine Corps and served for four years active-duty. He had traveled all over the world, to places like Haiti and Greece, defending his country and serving proudly for his loved ones around him. After his enlistment, he began working full time to support his wife and children at home.

Jim was the sole provider for the family, working so that his wife could stay home and raise their kids, sometimes working multiple jobs at once. He never complained and did it all with a smile on his face, as long as it meant his children were being cared for in the home. He worked hard to move up in his company, always striving to better support his family.

Outside of working these jobs, Jim still devoted his love to ministry and the church by becoming a youth pastor as a young man, helping to change the lives and instill a foundation for Christ in the lives of many teenagers for nearly a decade. Upon leaving the youth, many of the kids reconnected and became lifelong friends, while also being involved in their church in the same way Jim was.

While he worked hard and poured into his community, above it all, he was a family man. Most nights after working, he would come in the door to be greeted by his family, and would enjoy time at the dinner table, before retiring to the living room and spending time with his wife and children for the night.

He would spend his weekends cheering for his favorite sports teams, having a jersey for each team, typically one for each day. While watching, he would gather his family to play boardgames and cards, teaching his kids about a competitive attitude, but also making memories that will last a lifetime, providing stories for his family to pass down for generations about the amazing man he was.

He enjoyed cooking for his family and friends, always finding new recipes for them to try and even inventing some of his own. Another hobby he enjoyed was golfing, leading to many matches between his sons and his brother-in-law, with a running tally of wins and losses.

Another one of his greatest achievements was becoming a grandfather or “PawPaw,” with the birth of his first grandchild in May of 2022.

In February of 2026, Jim was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, an aggressive form of bone cancer, that quickly changed into a rare form of leukemia. Throughout all of his routine doctor's visits, chemo and radiation therapy, transfusions, and constant dialysis, his faith in his Lord never wavered, and his love for his family grew stronger.

After a tough battle, Jim went into the presence of his Savior on July 29, 2026, his 52nd birthday. He passed away surrounded by many loved ones and close friends.

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Heather Peters; children Noah Peters, Evan Peters, and Marlei Peters; granddaughter, Iris Peters; parents, Mildred (Dulabhan) and James Peters; sisters, Lonna (Richard) Oehler and Amanda Henderson; brother-in-law, Aaron (Stacey) Miller; mother and father-in-law, Doug and Jan Miller; and many beloved nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be held on Thursday, August 6, 2026 from 9:30am to 11:30am at Massillon First Assembly of God Church, with funeral services beginning at 11:30 am. Burial and full military honors will follow at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery, Seville, Ohio.

Many have asked how they can support Heather and the Peters family during this difficult time. In lieu of flowers, those who feel led to do so may make a memorial gift by visiting the GoFundMe fundraiser: https://www.gofundme.com/f/JimPeters

To share a memory of James "Jim" or leave a special message for his family, please visit the guestbook below.