James P. “Lunch Box” Bursey, 47, of Lunenburg, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Jan. 25, on a jobsite in Winchendon, doing what he loved to do.

        Jim was born in Malden, on Aug. 25, 1964, a son of the late, Hazel Louise (Gramstorff) Bursey and has lived in Lunenburg since 1972.  He graduated from Lunenburg High School in 1983.

        Jim was a grandson of the late Brigadier General Ted Gramstorff and very proud of the fact that he was the only one of sixteen to follow in his grandfather’s footsteps.  He joined the U.S. Army National Guard in 1983 and served 22 years, which included a tour in Iraq with the 110th maintenance company.  He was honorably discharged with the rank of staff sergeant.

    Jim was a self employed contractor and owned and operated E & M Carpentry.  He was very active in the Masons and was a member of the Artisan Lodge in Winchendon where he was the youngest member ever to be Master of that Lodge.  Jim enjoyed doing genealogy research on his family and could often be seen in his truck pulling floats for the homecoming parade.

    Jim leaves his wife of 22 years, Donna M. (Evelyn) Bursey; a daughter Melissa Bursey and a son Eric Bursey all of Lunenburg; his father Robert H. Bursey of Ruskin, FL; two sisters, Cheryl A. Morrissette and her husband David of Goffstown, NH and Pamela J. Eddy and her husband David of Dexter, ME; a brother, Stephen R. Bursey of Quinlan, TX; his mother-in-law, Virginia Brunette and husband Steve of Salem, NH, his sister-in- law, Michelle Mauro and her husband Elio of Reading; nieces, Stephanie, Hollie and Renee and nephew, Bryan.

    His funeral was celebrated on Monday, Jan. 30 in the Lunenburg Chapel of the Sawyer-Miller-Masciarelli Funeral Homes, 763 Massachusetts Ave.  Calling hours in the funeral home were held on Sunday, Jan. 29.

            In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to the Artisan Lodge of Masons, School St., Winchendon, MA 01475 or to the American Diabetes Association, 10 Speen St., Framingham, MA 01707.