James “Jim” William Sirk, 74, passed away at 5:45 pm on January 16, 2023, at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Indianapolis. He was born on August 20, 1948, the son of Robert and Evelyn (Wimmer) Sirk in Grant County, Indiana.
Jim grew up on a farm near Jalapa along with his brothers, Joe and Flava, and his sister, Sue, and attended Hendricks School and Oak Hill High School where he was quarterback on the football team and enthusiastic player on the basketball team under coaches Jim Law and Phil McCarter respectively. Jim attended and eventually graduated from Ball State University, his education interrupted by his military service in Vietnam in 1970—1971. Jim’s military service shaped much of the rest of his life. The combat experiences at such a young age led to his gratitude at emerging from this conflict relatively unscathed physically and his appreciation of finding emotional equilibrium through a life caring for his horses, planting and nurturing his pine trees and his apple orchard, tending his bird sanctuary, and establishing a sanctuary for all wildlife, as the owner of Jalapa Pines tree farm.
While at Ball State, Jim played football and was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity through which he made life-long friends, true brothers. After graduation, Jim’s business acumen led him to work for Harris Steel, Texaco, and as a sales rep for auto companies. During his work life, Jim continued his interest in music, preferably Bob Dylan, literature, preferably American history and poetry, and specifically local history of the Miami Indian tribe, since the farm he grew up on was the site of the Battle of Mississinewa in 1812. He married Betty Woodward on May 1, 2004.
Jim is survived by his loving wife, Betty; three sons, Anthony James Sirk of Linden, Indiana, Ryan William Sirk of Jalapa, Indiana, Joseph Flava (Kortney) Sirk of Fort Wayne, Indiana; two grandsons, Harrison Flava, Penn Robert; one step son, Ben Woodward of Indianapolis, Indiana; two brothers, Joe Sirk of Angola, Indiana, Flava (Leah) Sirk of Sweetser, Indiana; one sister, Sue Landaw of Indianapolis, Indiana; two nephews, Scott Sirk of New Palestine, Indiana and Joel Keefer of Bloomington, Indiana; two nieces, Kristen Guttilla of Tampa, Florida, Kaitlyn Sallee of LaFontaine, Indiana. He is proceeded in death by his parents.
Funeral Services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 21, 2023, at LaFontaine Christian Church 202 Bruner Pike LaFontaine, Indiana 46940 with Pastor Brad Wright officiating. Burial will follow at the Mt. Etna Cemetery in Huntington County.
Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 20, 2023, at LaFontaine Christian Church.
Preferred memorials can be directed to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 3091 E. 98th St. #240 Indianapolis, Indiana 46280.
McDonald Funeral Homes, LaFontaine Chapel, 104 South Main Street, LaFontaine, Indiana 46940, have been trusted with Jim Sirk’s final arrangements.
Online condolences may be directed to the family at www.mcdonaldfunerals.com