James "Jimmy" W. Repmann

Mr. James “Jimmy” W. Repmann, 63, entered the arms of the Lord, escorted by His heavenly angels on Friday, July 11, 2025.

We respectfully request that no one arrive at the funeral home prior to the posted visitation times, so as not to intrude on the family’s private time. 

Family and friends are invited to the visitation in the Kowalski Funeral Home, 515 Roselle Street, Linden on Friday, July 18th. from 3:00-7:00PM.  On Saturday, July 19th. at 8:30AM, everyone will start to gather in the funeral home where a prayer service will begin at 9:00AM, followed by the funeral mass to be offered in St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church in Linden at 10:00AM.  The prayers of committal will precede Jimmy’s burial in the family plot in St. Gertrude Cemetery, Colonia, New Jersey.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Jimmy’s memory may be made by mail to the Arc of Union County, ATTN: DMC, 70 Diamond Road, Springfield, NJ 07081 or online at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/thearcofunioncounty/ 

Jimmy, the son of the late Stella R. Szot Repmann and the late William C. Repmann, was born in Rahway, New Jersey and lived his entire life in Linden.

He was one of the oldest members of almost forty-four years of the Arc of Union County, where he participated in their Special Olympics, running track, doing a work exchange at the Cranford Work Center and until his recent setback, Jimmy was enrolled in their day program every day for too many years to count.  He loved going there, being with his friends and keeping busy doing various projects.  Jimmy is the first generation of Down Syndrome babies to live way beyond the age expectancy of 40 years and Jimmy made sure to relish every second of it. 

For about five years, Jimmy also worked at Pizza Hut, doing all sorts of jobs; cleaning, mixing sauces and being an all-around helper and a great ambassador for the brand, as he loved pizza.  Locally Jimmy’s years were enriched as a member of the Linden sponsored bowling leagues where he had a great time knocking down the pins and in the summer months, he became a athlete swimmer.  Faith was a very large part of Jimmy’s life and in 1981, he became the first disabled down syndrome altar server in the Newark Archdiocese….a role and responsibility that he proudly took on for many years under the tutelage of various priests who took Jimmy under their wings, especially Reverend Mariusz “Gene” Koch and Reverend Miroslaw Krol.  In fact, Reverend Koch said publicly that working with Jimmy, learning from him and along the way becoming lasting friends, greatly altered his own journey as a priest.  Jimmy was always the life of the party and when music was involved, Jimmy was dancing away as if no one was watching!  He had a wicked grin and a sharp sense of humor, and he was an outgoing soul who made friends with everyone.  Any girl or lady that Jimmy met instantly became his “girlfriend” or of course, he told each one of us, that he was going to marry us!  Jimmy had his own “black book” and all the gals were happy to be a part of it.  He enjoyed the socialness of eating out - Amici III Restaurant in Linden was one of his favorites and going to Atlantic City was an exciting excursion for him, full of fun and of course, food.  If the words “taking a trip” were uttered,  Jimmy was at the ever ready, bags packed and up for anything, be it a road trip to the Amish Country or traveling to Poland to see the home of his ancestors.  A few years ago, when President Duda of Poland along with his wife, stopped in Linden on their way to the United Nations, Linden Chief of Police, David Hart, another of Jimmy’s friends, made sure that Jimmy was able to meet the President  and get a photo with them.  Later, when on a sponsored pilgrimage organized by Reverend Krol to Poland, Jimmy went to the Presidential Place in Warsaw where he  attended a mass celebrated by the President’s chaplain in the Presidential Chapel.  Jimmy was thrilled to present the President with a t-shirt that his sister, June had made up which showed the picture of their prior meeting.  Jimmy was so proud because the President loved the shirt!  It is very much a tribute to Jimmy that word has reached the family that the President’s chaplain will be offering a mass for Jimmy on the same day that we are celebrating his funeral mass here in Jimmy’s home parish of St. Theresa of the Child Jesus Roman Catholic Church Archdiocesan Shrine of St. John Paul II.  A few years ago, Jimmy was gifted with a “red book” a souvenir album of the canonization of John Paul II, which was divided into sections which reminded us of the most impressive messages and pictures which this Saint and Pope sent out to the whole world.  Jimmy was engrossed with the book and enthralled with it at the same time.  It seemed to become his appendage, as he was forever looking at it to the point that it became so tattered with use, it had to be replaced with a new one.  Even during these last few months when Jimmy could no longer speak, he was forever looking at the red book and his lips were moving as if he was reading aloud to someone or talking to someone about it.  It was his life preserver keeping him afloat as his health was failing.

Jimmy, like all of us, enjoyed some relaxation time, watching television, especially all the old shows like the 6 Million Dollar Man, Charlie’s Angels, Bionic Woman, Murder She Wrote and of course, the fan favorites - Jeopardy and Wheel of Fortune. 

In addition to his parents, Jimmy is predeceased by his brother, Walter J. Nowicki.  Jimmy is survived by his sister, who cared for him his entire life, June E. Repmann; his brother, Carl Repmann and his wife, Marjorie; his nephews and nieces, William “Billy” Repmann, Susan Vanscovich and her husband, Paul, Dennis Repmann and his wife, Joyce, Maureen Repmann, Michael Nowicki and Kevin Nowicki; his cousin, Edward Sot and his wife, Carolyn; Trudi Pina, who has been like a sister to him all his life and of course, Jimmy’s many second, third and fourth cousins, his numerous neighbors and friends, all of whom became a part of his ever expanding “Family”.

To say that Jimmy will be missed is an understatement.  He was life, love, hugs and kisses all rolled into one man that we were all blessed to know and call him “ours”.   Jimmy, one in a million, irreplaceable, the kind of person who touched your soul.  May he now rest in Eternal Peace with His Lord & Savior, his mom, dad, brother and all those who went before him & were there to greet him with open arms.  Fly with the angels Jimmy, your pain and suffering are no more. 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James "Jimmy" W. Repmann, please visit our floral store.