Jim (James) Kutsch, a former volunteer with the Idyllwild Fire Department, long-time resident and a retired employee of Lake Hemet Municipal Water District at Lake Hemet Campground, passed away on May 3, 2021.
He is survived by his wife Nancy, of Mountain Center; his daughters Leigha Kutsch, Christina and her husband Patrick, son Jeremy Kutsch and his wife Jennifer; six grandchildren, Justin, Joel, Danielle Perez, Paul Kennen, John Edwards and William James Kutsch, two great-grandchildren, Nathan and Zachary Perez; and his brothers Larry and Trent.
He was immensely proud of his service to the Lake Hemet Municipal Water District and to Idyllwild Fire.
He will be greatly missed.
There will be a memorial service held for Jim at Calvary Chapel Mountain Center Sunday, June 13 at 2 p.m. followed by a celebration of life at Lake Hemet.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the Wildland Firefighter Foundation or the National Volunteer Fire Council Volunteer Firefighter Support Fund.

Similar Posts

  • Obituary: Phyllis Hord

    By Reading Time: 1 minute

    Memorial services for Phyllis Hord, longtime librarian at Desert Sun School, were held March 2 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Arcadia. Burial followed at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Los Angeles. She was in her 70s. Mrs. Hord passed away on Saturday, Feb. 21. From 1979 until the school’s close,…

  • Obituary: Vince ‘Jim’ Mangione

    By Reading Time: 1 minute

    Vince Mangione, 77, of Idyllwild, died Saturday, June 15, 2002, in Palm Springs. He died peacefully surrounded by family members: wife Myrna, stepdaughter Laurie, son-in-law Marty, and three sons, Tom, Jim and Danny. Mr. Mangione was born March 19, 1925, in Cleveland, Ohio, and raised in Ohio. He proudly served in the Army Air Corps…

  • Obituary: Faye Smart

    By Reading Time: 1 minute

    Faye B. Smart, 88, formerly of Garner Valley, died Sunday, Jan. 22, 2006 in Pasadena. She was born April 28, 1917 in Littleport, Iowa. Mrs. Smart was retired from Security Pacific bank in Hemet. From 1984 to 1987, she wrote a Garner Valley news column, “GV news notes,” for the Town Crier. The Neptune Society…

  • Obituary: Larry Smith

    By Reading Time: 1 minute

    Larry Smith, 55, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007 at his Idyllwild home. Born in Dallas, Texas, he was raised in Riverside. Mr. Smith moved to Idyllwild in 1969. He joined the U.S. Forest Service in July of that year and spent his career in the San Jacinto Ranger District before retiring as an engine foreman…

  • Obituary: Max ‘Mackie’ Rana

    By Reading Time: 2 minutes

    Max Rana, 56, passed away of natural causes on his last hike on his favorite trail near Idyllwild on Aug. 23, 2012. Max loved the mountains. He always said he felt closer to God in nature. His other passions included riding his mountain bike, camping, fishing and hiking with family and friends. He enjoyed his…