Jim, 75, was born in Marion to the late James H. and Margaret E. (Denton) Duncan. Butch, as he was called as a kid, grew up in South Marion and loved the roots he had there. He was a 1960 graduate of Marion High School. After high school he worked for Kroger Milk Company and Raven Funeral Home where he learned to love the funeral business. At which point he decided to continue his education and graduated from Indiana College of Mortuary Science. In 1964 he enlisted and honorably served in the Army National Guard.
“If you love what you do you will never work a day in your life.” His motto for working-nothing was more important to him and he lived to work and loved every minute of it. He began working as a kid with his brother mowing lawns and “passing papers”and no doubt still has the first dollar he ever made. On July 1, 1978 he bought Owen- Weilert Funeral Home, Marion and later expanded Owen-Weilert-Duncan Funeral Homes to Converse and Gas City.
Jim loved Marion and Grant County-there is no better place to live and work. He was actively involved in Democrat and Republican politics for a long period of time. He served two mayors on the Marion Board of Public Works and the county on the Grant County Health Board. He was a former board member of the morning Exchange Club, Indiana Funeral Directors Association Hightower Board and the United Way. He was very patriotic and advocated for many veterans by volunteering and helping make sure a veteran would receive help and/or benefits. He was also a member of the American Legion Post 95, Marine Corps League Tripoli Detachment and Amvets.
When he wasn’t working he could be found at the Marion Aero Club hanging out with his buddies telling tall tales and laughing. For many years he enjoyed traveling to Longboat Key, Florida and made many trips to Canada. He was a collector of many things including antiques, crystal and coins. He was a faithful member of St. Paul Catholic Church.
He will be greatly missed by his family and friends for many things, but his sense of humor (appropriate and inappropriate), his ornery laugh, his opinions and arguments, his great generosity to those in need and his enormous generous heart for everyone he loved.
Jim is survived by two daughters, Amy S. (Patrick) Larson, Syracuse, Indiana; Margaret “Anne” Duncan, Marion; sister, Juanita Bales, Thomasville, Georgia; brother, C. Thompson “Tom” Duncan, Ft. Wayne; two grandchildren, Lucas K. Larson, Rochester, Indiana; Emma A. Larson, Syracuse, Indiana; many nieces and nephews
He is also preceded in death by his sister, Virginia L. Atkinson.
The funeral mass will be celebrated at 11:30am, Thursday, December 7, 2017 in St. Paul Catholic Church, 1031 West Kem Road, Marion, Indiana with Rev. Richard Weisenberger officiating. The private committal service will follow in Bond Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, December 6, 2017 from 4pm-7:30pm in Owen-Weilert-Duncan Funeral Home, Marion Chapel, 2722 South Washington Street, Marion, Indiana. The prayer vigil will begin at 7:30pm.
Please direct memorial contributions to St. Paul Catholic School, 1009 West Kem Road, Marion, Indiana 46952; or St. Martin Community Center, 901 South Branson, Marion, Indiana 46953; or Visiting Nurse and Hospice Home, 5910 Homestead Road, Ft. Wayne, Indiana 46814