- Date Of Birth: September 22, 1939
- Date Of Death: December 21, 2021
- State: Indiana
James F. “Jim” Sheets, 82, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 21, 2021, at Marion Health.
He was born on September 22, 1939, to the late Ernest and Miriam (Merriman) Sheets, in Fairmount, Indiana. Jim had 7 siblings and grew up farming. Jim graduated from Fairmount High School, Class of 1957. He was a Specialist in the United States Army from 1963 to 1965, earning a Sharpshooter (Rifle) and a Good Conduct medal. Jim married the love of his life, Thelma L. (Downam) Sheets, on December 14, 1968, at Wesleyan Church in Gas City. They spent 53 years together.
Jim was and will forever be her hero. They attended The River Church, in Marion. Jim retired as a supervisor in 1999 from Thomson Consumer Electronics, after 42 years of service. Jim was a hero to many. He was a good solid Christian man who loved and served his Lord faithfully. If Jim told you that he loved you, he meant it. He would do anything for anyone at any time. He and Thelma had a place at Jellystone Park (Yogi Bear), in Pierceton, IN, for 42 years. Many members of the family’s fondest memories were made at Yogi Bear and at their home off of Wheeling Pike, in Fairmount. Jim loved farming and his John Deere tractor. Jim and the kids shared a love for horses. They spent many of hours cutting wood to heat their home during the winters. Jim enjoyed playing volleyball. He bowled for 30 plus years and was very good at it. Jim was a top-notch man, he will be missed dearly by us all.
He is survived by his wife, Thelma Sheets; sister, Mary Carolyn Sheets-Jones; brothers, Robert (Jane) Sheets, Dick Sheets, and Steve (Linda) Sheets; sister-in-law, Gail Sheets; children, Kim (Bob) Joseph, Kevin (Peggy) Sheets, and Kelly Sheets; daughter-in-law, Jacque Sheets; grandchildren, Kristy Loftis, Denise (Aaron) Oyler, Karen Hoskins, Brian (Jessica Leigh) Hoskins, Kari Sheets, Josh (Mandy) Kilgore, Caleb (Brandi) Sheets, Gabe (Glenda) Sheets, Keith “KJ” (Sadi Curtis) Sheets, Dustin (Kyle) Pennington, Jennifer Eckstein, Kaitlynn Sheets, Brittany (Jermaine) Stanley, Kayli (Brandon Wollitz) Joseph, Cody Joseph, Lindsay (Paul Grant) Jones, Nathaniel Jones, and Hanna (James) Brown; 35 great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews, several people that looked up to Jim as a father figure, and many friends.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Miriam Sheets; brothers, Jack Sheets, David (Mary) Sheets, and Philip Sheets; sons, Kenny and Keith Sheets; grandson, Jacob Eckstein.
