James Edward Schuster

James Edward Schuster, 72, died Thursday, May 8, 2025. Jim was born on April 28, 1953, in Buffalo, NY as the second child of W. Daniel Schuster and Donna Mae Schuster. He attended the Pembroke School District, where Jim became a talented athlete at several sports. When injuries made his dream of becoming a professional football player an impossibility, his raw athletic ability allowed him to pivot to collegiate wrestling at Lock Haven University. After receiving NCAA All-American honors as a freshman, he went on to break school and state records. This became a source of intense pride throughout his life. He credits his coaches, teammates, and experience wrestling with helping to teach him the resilience, determination, and an intense ability of focus that would later carry him through an exceptional business career. His induction into the Lock Haven University Wrestling Hall of Fame in 2024, and the reunion with Bald Eagle teammates and fraternity brothers in Lock Haven, PA led to a renewed passion for his alma mater. Jim married Ann in 1983. It was a good match because Jim was the big picture guy while Ann was the detail, problem solving half. As the proverbial saying goes, behind every great man is a great woman. He loved his family with his whole heart. By family we mean his wife, sons, grandsons, brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews, in-laws, and so on. To all of them he was bigger than life, our superhero. He was never satisfied with the status quo. He pushed, pulled, and led us forward to be more and do more in life. Jim was recruited to become CEO of Raytheon Aircraft in 2000. The company was in dire condition when he took the wheel. In his usual “all or nothing” attitude, Jim led the company back to a financially successful business, restoring the lasting legacy of the Beechcraft brand with delivery of products that will continue to impact the aviation world for decades to come. At the same time, Jim and Ann spent considerable time, effort, and resources turning a 180-year-old farmstead in Caldwell, Kansas into what is now known as “the farm” to some and “hunt camp” to others. He generously shared his passion for hunting with family and special friends. It is a place where old memories were shared, new memories were made, and many pranks were played. It was his personal playground where we worked the land as he saw fit. He once dug a large pond on ‘the farm’ in a place he was told would not sustain one. The now “Lake Ann Marie” is still flourishing more than a decade later, full of the many species of fish he stocked in it. Over a period of 20 years, Jim’s dream-turned-reality created many priceless days together and fueled lifelong passions in those lucky enough to join in the experience. That small Kansas town where he decided to put down roots welcomed him even though he was a larger-than-life outsider, and he embraced it and its people wholeheartedly. Jim was a man who chased his passions across the continent. From fishing for giant fish off the coast of Florida, to staring down Grizzly Bears in the Yukon, he always lived up to his nickname “Big Jim.” In order to dedicate more time to family, hunting, and fishing, Jim retired from the restructured company, then renamed Hawker Beechcraft Corporation in 2008. This role had given him the opportunity to represent Wichita across the globe as the “Aviation Capital of the World”. Jim made a lasting impression with colleagues and customers wherever his career took him. There are countless people who have looked up to him as a mentor, friend, and reliable source of witty or silly Dad jokes! A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held at a later date. Preceded in death by his parents, William Daniel and Donna Mae Schuster; son, Benjamin Schuster; and sister, Linda Landeras. Survived by his wife, Ann Marie Schuster of Palm City, FL; sons, Jeremy (Janet) Schuster of Nashville, TN, Jesse Schuster of Nashville, TN, Christian (Mattie) Schuster of Wichita, KS; three grandsons; brothers, William (Jodi) Schuster of FL, Roger (Sharon) Schuster of FL; sister, Lori (Al) Guedes of FL; and brother-in-law, Mike Landeras. If you would like to honor Jim, the family asks that you donate to the LHU Men's Wrestling Scholarship, link below. With eternal love and gratitude,Ann, Jer, Janet, Jesse, Chris, Mattie, Jakob, Miles, Max, Jimmy, Yohotem P’Dirt, and Burford Schmedley!!!