James Charles Roselius

James C. Roselius, 76, of Kinnelon, NJ passed away on Wednesday, September 16, 2026 after a yearlong battle with cancer. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother and uncle who will be greatly missed by his family. 

Jim was born in Jamaica, Queens, NY, in 1950, the eldest son of Charles F. and Aline (Doran) Roselius. James was a National Sales Manager for Panasonic in Secaucus, NJ for many years before retiring. 

As an infant, Jim was whisked away from the mean streets of the city to the newly bustling suburb of Bethpage on Long Island. There he had the idyllic baby boomer upbringing of a 50s kid – Howdy Doody, Davy Crockett hats, Little League and baseball cards, Mad Magazine, Boy Scouts and summers with his grandparents at Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. Jimmy welcomed three younger brothers to his family, whose worldview he helped shape as he subjected them to 60s rock music and popular culture. His favorite sport was baseball – after the Dodgers left for LA, Jim became a lifelong Mets fan in 1962. 

After being dragged by his parents to northern New Jersey in the mid 60s, Jim quickly adapted to the “country” life of Kinnelon, picking up guitar, playing softball and becoming one of the original members of the Fayson Lakes Wall Gang. An authentic member of the Woodstock generation, he kept his ticket stub from the original event ($18!). Jim – or Rosey to his many friends – graduated from Syracuse University and started working in television at UA-Columbia Cablevision, where he honed his production skills in audio, lighting and camera work on the nightly Bingo show. After learning all he could about TV production in the UA Pompton Lakes studio, Jim embarked on a long career with Panasonic, traveling extensively throughout the US and Japan. 

Jim loved living in Kinnelon and in 1990 returned to Fayson Lakes, where he and his first wife raised their two children, Jay and Carolyn.

Years later, Jim met the love of his life, his wife Nan, at Panasonic. Throughout their life together Nan remained a constant source of love, strength, and support – and in her daughter Lauren, Jim found another daughter of his own. He enjoyed hiking, visiting museums and attending jazz concerts with Nan. He served as lay leader of the former Kinnelon United Methodist Church and was Vice-Chair of the Kinnelon Historical Committee. Whenever Gramps and Nanma were not enjoying themselves with their grandchildren at Fayson Lakes Beach, they would spend as much time as they could with their blended families and friends down in Nags Head in the Outer Banks, NC – their other happy place.

James was predeceased by his parents and his youngest brother Charles. He is survived by his wife Nan (Van Houten); his children Jay Roselius of Philadelphia, PA and Carolyn Dean (husband David) of Kinnelon, NJ and grandchildren River, Skylar and Brianna; his daughter Lauren Davio (husband Kreg) and grandson Dakota; his brothers Tom (wife Anita) of Charles Town, WV and Doug (wife Tammi) of Kinnelon, and a vast legion of nephews and nieces who fondly remember him as “Unca Jim”.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Hackensack Memorial Hospital for the compassionate care Jim received over the past year. A celebration of his life will be held later this fall.