James Alan Gurzler

James Alan Gurzler, 59, of Drums, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 21, 2026, at Lehigh Valley Hospital - Hazleton following an almost four-year battle with lung cancer.

Born in Passaic, NJ, July 30, 1966, he was the son of the late Ernest "Ernie" and Ida Eleanor "Ellie" (Fleming) Gurzler, Jr. and spent the past 24 years in Drums after moving from Lodi, NJ.

Jim graduated from Lodi High School in 1984 and graduated from Rutgers University in 1993 with a degree in Professional Golf Turf Management. For over 35 years James was a golf course superintendent then an Irrigation Specialist in the golf industry with his most recent employment as COO of Reasonable Outdoors.

He was a member of Calvary Chapel of the Poconos, Albrightsville. He was also a board member of the Irrigation Assoc. of NJ, and was a member of the Pocono, NY State, and NJ State Turfgrass Assocs. Jim was a former board member of Beech Mountain Lakes, and a former member of the Boy Scouts of America. He was also involved in Little Leauges of Lodi, NJ, Valley East Little League and Babe Ruth Baseball, Drums and the Society for Creative Anachronism, East Kingdom.

Surviving are his devoted wife, the former Christine Lochheed; to whom he was married on December 28, 1991 in Paramus, NJ; three sons, Matthew Gurzler, Drums; Andrew Gurzler and fiancée Lexie Chaban, Lattimer; and Daniel Gurzler, Drums; two grandchildren, Gregory Chaban and Teagan Smith, Lattimer; two brothers, Steven Gurzler and wife Beth, Lake Luzerne, NY; and Ernest R. Gurzler; father and mother in-law, Roy and Elizabeth Lochheed, Woodridge, NJ; sisters-in-law, Kathleen Lochheed, Olyphant; Laura Lochheed, Harmony, NJ; Melissa Avenia and husband Lou, Fairfield, NJ; and Kristin Conte and husband Jordan, Landing, NJ; brother-in-law, Sean Lochheed and wife Jennifer, Westwood, NJ; eight "niblings" (nieces and nephews), Jacob Gurzler, Manchester, CT; Geoffrey Gurzler, Rockford, TN; Liana and Ryan Avenia, Fairfield, NJ; Liam and Kya Conte, Landing, NJ; and Lucy and Landon Lochheed, Westwood, NJ; and two great-nephews, Griffin and Grant Gurzler.

His funeral will be held Saturday, April 25, 2026 at 3PM from Harman Funeral Homes & Crematory Inc. (East), 669 W. Butler Dr, Drums. Interment will take place privately at the convenience of his family. Friends may call at the funeral home on Friday, April 24, 2026, from 2 PM to 4 PM and from 7 PM to 9PM and on Saturday, April 25, 2026, from 11 AM until the time of the service.

Memorial donations may be made to the Irrigation Association of NJ Education Fund, IANJ Headquarters, 80 Morristown Rd, Unit 3B, Box 225, Bernardsville, NJ 07924. Online condolences can be entered, and more information is available at www.harmanfuneral.com.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James Alan Gurzler, please visit our floral store.