East Greenbush - James Andrew Van Buren, 72, passed away on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at his home after a long courageous battle with heart disease. Born in Albany, he was the son of the late Charles C. and Carolyn I. (Conklin) Van Buren, Sr. Jim was a 1964 graduate of Columbia High School and worked as a mechanic for Armory Garage for 27 years and retired after 13 years working for the Town of East Greenbush after an injury. He always said "I'd rather be working". Jim coached little league, was a committeeman for the East Greenbush Republican Party and very proud to have risen through the ranks of the East Greenbush Fire Company having been the youngest fire chief they'd had at that time. He also served as a commissioner for the fire department and was a life member. Prior to his illness he was an avid hunter and fisherman. In the summer he loved sitting on the deck and having neighbors and friends over and in the fall vacationing to Cape Cod. Jim was a member of the East Greenbush United Methodist Church and the Rensselaer Elks. James is survived by his loving wife of 50 years Kathleen (Milot) Van Buren; loving father of Russell J. (Beth) Van Buren and Joanne (Ramsey) Mount; devoted grandfather of Shawn (Echo Bateholts) Rivers, Jr., Codey (Kendra Kilcullen) Mount, Jordan Van Buren, Jamye Mount, Alyssa Van Buren and Kailee Mount and the apple of his eye, his great-grandchild Shawn Rivers, III. He is also survived by his brothers Charles (Linda) C. Van Buren, Jr. of North Carolina, Raymond (Rita) A. Van Buren of New Jersey and many friends, nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 5, 2018 at 10am in the W.J. Lyons, Jr., Funeral Home, 1700 Washington Ave., Rensselaer. Relatives and friends are invited and may call at the funeral home on Wednesday from 4 - 7pm. Interment will be in New Rural Cemetery, East Greenbush.