DETECTIVE SGT. JAMES PIFER III

Detective Sergeant James N. Pifer, III, 39, of the Upper Gwynedd Police Department, passed away March 27, 2008. A resident of Lansdale for the last 10 years, he had formerly resided in Souderton. He and his wife, Rosa (Silvestri) Pifer, would have observed their 15th wedding anniversary on August 14.

Born August 28, 1968 in Sellersville, he was a son of James N. Pifer Sr. and Arlene F. (Schreiner) Pifer of Souderton. He was a 1986 graduate of Souderton Area High School and served in the U. S. Army from 1986 to 1989.

He later served as a patrolman for the Northern Lancaster County Regional Police Department and joined the Upper Gwynedd Police Department in 1995. He became part of the Detective Division in 1997 and was named a detective sergeant in 2004. Sgt. Pifer also served as a field training officer and arson investigator with Upper Gwynedd and was a D.A.R.E. officer for many years. He served as a negotiator for the North Penn Area Tactical Response Team and as coordinator of the C-100 Communication Unit for Upper Gwynedd.

 Sgt. Pifer coached hundreds of kids in little league baseball for the Souderton Area Baseball League for more than 20 years, where he presently served as president, and had held that position for many years, beginning in 1991. He was instrumental in having the clubhouse built at the American Legion Ball Field. He also coached basketball this year with the Souderton Harleysville Youth Basketball Association. Sgt. Pifer was an Eagle Scout and former scout leader with Troop 401 in Souderton. He tirelessly volunteered and gave to the community and enjoyed doing so.

He was a lifelong member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Souderton.

Sgt. Pifer was an avid golfer, and Phillies and Steelers fan. Above all, he loved his wife and children and cherished time with his family.

In addition to his wife and parents, he is survived by three children, Jimmy, Stephanie, and Brooke, all at home; a brother, Brian K. Pifer and his wife, Deborah, of Hatfield; his parents-in-law, Quint and Livia Silvestri of Sellersville; a brother-in-law, Paul Silvestri and his wife, Tracey, of Perkasie; a sister-in-law, Maria James and her husband, Wil, of Douglassville; and 11 nieces and nephews.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at 10 AM, Thursday, April 3 at Trinity Lutheran Church, 1000 W. Main St., Lansdale, with burial following at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Cheltenham. Family will receive friends Wednesday, from 4 to 8 PM at the church. There will be no calling hours Thursday, prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to Detective Sgt. James Pifer’s Children Fund at any Commerce Bank. Funeral arrangements are by the Williams-Bergey-Koffel Funeral Home, Inc. of Franconia.