Jim West

Jim West was born at Grace Hospital on December 1, 1940, to Emmett and Coletta (Wilhelms) West, and lived on Cypress Ave in Cleveland, OH. Jim was the younger brother of Tom and the elder to sisters Peggy West and Kathleen VanDanElsen.



Jim attended grade school at Our Lady of Good Counsel, where he was also baptized and received First Communion. He completed his grade school years at St. Coleman, and proudly graduated from St. Ignatius in 1958. He also played and hauled around a sousaphone for the St. Ignatius band for four years, which helped develop his incredible athletic physique.



Jim’s first entrepreneurial endeavor was working as a paperboy for the Cleveland Plain Dealer from age 12 to 16. Around age 19, he continued to work in sales at Eastman Kodak, where he developed (not only film) but his appreciation and love for cameras. After studying for two years at Fenn College of Engineering, now Cleveland State University, he continued his career in sales at Appliance City selling electronics, appliances, and cameras. Jim’s natural affinity for electronics inspired him to eventually teach himself about electronics and radio waves, which he supplemented with a degree from DeVry Technical Institute.



Jim marries Joanne Heideloff in 1962, and moved onto their first home on W. 126 ^th in Cleveland. The next home they bought was in North Royalton in 1968, now dubbed the “Eagle’s Nest”. Naturally, a good name for the home of a man who spent his life scampering across roof tops in Northeast Ohio! In 1936, he risked starting his own company, Cleveland Antenna Service, Inc. He has successfully owned, operated, and managed this company for the past 47 years. His son, Joel West, who has since taken on the “higher” technical operations, will continue Jim’s legacy by continuing to operate and own the family business.



Jim was passionate for theatre, and thoroughly enjoyed his time acting and directing numerous plays throughout various community theaters in Northeast Ohio. He also enjoyed volunteering at the school concession stand with sons during games. He made contributions to the local community through his work as a Jaycee and the Rotary Club, Investors EUCLOID and was a member of NESDA of Ohio (an electronics trade Association).



It’s obvious that Jim LOVED to entertain his friends, mostly in the backyard outdoor “awning” where many have probably attended his Hattie Larlham Breakfast benefit which grew over the years. He even made homemade maple syrup for these events, by processing the maple syrup provided by the trees at the Eagle’s Nest property.



Jim leaves behind his wife Lori, sons Jeff, Jon and Joel plus hundreds of friend that will miss him dearly.