James Smith

Jim Smith Feb. 4, 1942 – Feb. 26, 2015

BREMEN – Jim R. Smith, 73, of Bremen, went to be with his Heavenly Father at 12:25 AM on Thursday, February 26, 2015 after a brave battle with cancer. He was born to Paul and Margaret (Woodard) Smith in Richmond, Indiana, on February 4, 1942. On August 30, 1986, Jim married Jean Heinke. Jim is survived by his wife, Jean Smith of Bremen; four children, Lisa (Mike) Beebe of Ft. Wayne, Lori (Jason) Dickson of Ft. Wayne, Branden (Cindy) Morris of Bremen and Shantel Morris of Vincennes, nine grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and a foster sister, Jean Puttoff.

Jim graduated from Richmond High School and went on to attend Angola Tri-State University. He worked in management and sales in the HVAC Industry. Jim was a faithful and active member of the Bremen United Methodist Church. He was also a member of the Bremen Masonic Lodge #456 and the Alpha Sigma Phi; Jim was working to set up a new chapter through Trine University.

Tributes

March 5, 2015 – How do you say goodbye to someone who lived life so well, a person who means so much to so many? I look back fondly on the years we studied and contemplated the great and noble Heavenly Father of our faith, and I know that you have risen to new eternal life by now… so dear friend, live long and prosper until we meet again in the mansions on high… Susan Lyon

Jim and his wife, Jeannie, were regular attendees at a Sunday afternoon Urantia Study Group for many years, and also charter members of Greater Lake Michigan Urantia Association, a local affiliate of Urantia Association International. Jim took the picture shown below at an annual picnic celebrating the birth of Jesus in August of 1985 at Twin Branch Park, in Mishawaka, Indiana. Pictured from left to right – front row: Bruce White Sr. of Niles, MI, Michael Mason of Hammond, IN, Michael Ferree of Dyer, IN, Jim Buehler of Hammond, IN, Jeannie Smith of Bremen, IN, John Foegley of South Bend, IN. Top Row: June Vawter of Elkhart, IN, Gordon Fernald of Elkhart, IN, Bob Buselli and Linda Buselli of Indianapolis, IN, Susan Grzeskowiak and Ron Grzeskowiak of Mishawaka, IN. (not pictured: Jim Smith–photographer)

Jim was the proud founder of the Boot Hill Hikers, a cemetery pictorial directory group, along with his wife, Jean. Together, Jim and Jean enjoyed photographing different scenery and hiking in new places. Jim and Jean always seemed to be the ideal of a couple in love, true soulmates and kindred spirits to all that knew them.

All services in honor of Jim will be private. The family has requested that memorial contributions be given to the Bremen United Methodist Church or the American Cancer Society American Cancer Society. The Mishler Funeral Home in Bremen assisted the family with arrangements.