James B. Gastineau

James B. Gastineau

December 27, 1937 - August 29, 2026

James Gastineau passed away on Saturday, August 29. He was born in Dayton, Ohio. The son of Noah and Hilda Gastineau. He went to school in Miamisburg and attended Miami University in Oxford, where he met his loving wife, Barbara, of 66 years. They have two sons, Jeff and Drake, four grandchildren, Adam, Taylor, Hunter, and Mia. Jim has two sisters, Marcia and Sue Ellen. While at Miami Jim was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity.

In 1961 Jim decided to break away from his father’s hardware, appliance, and furniture business and try it on his own. They bought an old 2-story brick house built in the mid 1800’s with no bathroom and only cold running water in the kitchen. It was on 8.25 acres just outside the city limits of Miamisburg and their first real estate investment. They went into the appliance business in the Miamisburg Shopping Center. They soon expanded to custom cabinets and floor covering. The store in the shopping center didn’t allow for expansion so they purchased an old 3-story tobacco warehouse in downtown Miamisburg which they remodeled and added a furniture/decorating shop and a restaurant. Later they purchased a 60 acre farm which was soon expanded to 200 acres near Germantown.

It was decided they needed to raise something besides Christmas trees which were already there when they bought the farm and went into the purebred cattle business. The first cattle were Charolais. The first heifer was purchased from the Bob Evans Farm at Rio Grande, Ohio. He didn’t really have time to take care of the growing herd of cattle, so Jim decided he needed a herdsman. In 1971 Jim interviewed a young herdsman from New Carlisle who suggested that Jim just come to Stonyridge Farms where he was working. Jim was very impressed with the farm which had cattle and a large confinement swine operation. It was all part of a 650-acre estate of Joseph McAdams known as Stonyridge Farms. In 1972 negotiations were complete and the family moved to New Carlisle but continued to run the farm near Germantown also. There were lots of cattle sales to attend. Stonyridge hosted two national cattle sales at the farm in 1974 and 1975. Jim began to think that these cattle trips would be more efficient if he could fly his own plane. He took flying lessons and got into general aviation. He along with his partner, Dick Wartinger, founded Commander Aero which started at the Greene County Airport and later moved to Dayton General Airport South of the Dayton Mall.

Jim served on the New Carlisle Bethel Board of Education and helped promote and expand the Tecumseh YMCA and was a member of the First United Methodist Church where they sang in the choir and Jim later directed. Jim liked to make productions of many musical selections. Stonyridge hosted several Christmas and Easter Productions often including live animals. They were founding members of the New Carlisle Community Chorus; Jim continued the tradition of a combined Palm Sunday service for Bethel Churches United which included an orchestra in 2005.

Jim got into real estate development, early in his career. He has owned Stonyridge Realty, Inc. for over 55 years.

Family was very important to Jim and Barbara. Both of their parents, Noah and Hilda Gastineau, and Herschel and Irma Drake, along with Jim’s sister, Marcia, have gone on to be with their Maker and are missed by all. Efforts are being made to keep the family together and remain close even though they are becoming more scattered throughout the states.

One of Jim’s favorite projects was starting the Caramel Candy fundraiser for the church. It not only provided extra money to the church and the community, but also delivered many hours of fun and fellowship for its church members.

Jim has always endeavored to make the world a better place in all he did.

A visitation will be held at 6:00 pm followed by a church Memorial Service on September 10th, at 7:00 PM

This will take place in the New Carlisle First United Methodist Church Sanctuary, 220 S. Main St. New Carlisle. 

Condolences and memories may be shared with the family at trostelchapman.com.