STOCKDALE
James F. “Jim” Stuckwisch, 78, of Stockdale, formerly of Peru and Seymour, passed away at 7:20 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, 2015, at his home.
Born June 16, 1937, in Seymour, he was the seventh of nine children born to Edwin H. and Lydia Wagner Stuckwisch, both of whom preceded him in death. On April 24, 1960, he married Lois Jeanne Thompson of Monticello, Maine, and she survives.
Jim was confirmed at Immanuel Lutheran School in Seymour in 1951 and graduated from Shields High School in Seymour in 1955.
He served three years in the U.S. Navy and four years in the U.S. Air Force. He worked at Cummins Engine Co. in Columbus from 1963-67. He was an air reserve technician at Bakalar Air Force Base in Columbus and was recalled to active duty for one year including a short tour in Vietnam. He moved to Grissom Air Force Base when Bakalar closed in 1970. Jim retired from the civil service and the air force reserves in 1992. His decorations and awards include the Air Force Commendation Medal (three awards), Presidential Unit Citation, Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, Air Force Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Air Force Overseas Short and Long Tour Service ribbons, Air Force Longevity Service Award (five awards), Air Reserve Forces Meritorious Service Award (four awards) and Small Arms Expert ribbon.
He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where he served on the board of stewardship and was financial secretary for many years. He was a Junior Farm League manager/coach for 10 years and was secretary-treasurer of Peru Little League for several years. He was a member of Peru Moose Lodge with a Fellowship Degree, and he served as trustee, governor and past governor. He also was a member of the American Legion. He was a member of Peru Maennerchor and was club manager from 1993-96. He was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, and he also worked as a delivery person at Smith Office Plus. He was an avid bowler and was secretary-treasurer of Peru Moose Mixed Bowling League for many years.
Jim loved the NFL and was a true blue Colts fan, even back from before they moved to Indianapolis. As an avid Cincinnati Reds fan, he still believed Pete Rose should get into the Hall of Fame.
Other survivors include daughter, Connie (Tom) Ison and granddaughter Maggie Ison of Prospect, Kentucky; son, Terry (Marilyn Day) Stuckwisch of Winona Lake; grandsons, Grant Stuckwisch and Phillip Dawalt of Winona Lake and Kyle (Haleigh) Dawalt; and great-granddaughter, Leona Jae Dawalt of Fort Wayne; a brother, Ervin Stuckwisch of Seymour; sisters, Carolyn Staley of Seymour and Gertrude Sutton of Peoria, Arizona; and sisters-in-law, Betty Williams Stuckwisch of Seymour, Brenda Stuckwisch of Apollo Beach, Florida, Donna Estabrook of Houlton, Maine, and Carolyn Thompson of Federal Way, Washington.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Mathilda “Sis” Bode, Mildred Lynch and Barbara Williams; brothers, Kenneth and Marvin Stuckwisch; grandson, Matthew Ison; niece, Tammy Williams; brothers-in-law, Ken Estabrook, Paul Thompson, Clifford Bode, Harold Sutton, Max Lynch and Don Williams; and sisters-in-law, Carol Thompson Rosborg and Janet Tope Stuckwisch.
The funeral service was Nov. 17 at Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home. The Rev. Kenneth Greenwald officiated. Burial was in Lutheran Cemetery.
Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home handled the arrangements.