Mr. James “Jim” William Burnell, 81, passed away on Mar. 7, 2021 at St. Vincent Hospice in Indianapolis.

Jim was born Mar. 12, 1939 in Hamilton Co., Indiana to Louis and Virginia (Durham) Burnell. He married his high school sweetheart, Suzan Isenhower on Sept. 14, 1958. She survives.

Jim was a 1958 graduate of Lebanon High School where he excelled in basketball, football and track. After graduating from high school, he served in the U.S. Army Military Police during the Korean War. He was stationed at Fort Gordon in Georgia where he enjoyed playing basketball on the traveling team and playing slow pitch softball.

Jim was employed for 35 years at Pittman Moore-Dow Chemical-Dow Elanco as a lab technician. He enjoyed raising and caring for his livestock, going to livestock sales and taking great pride in his custom hay bailing.  Jim also enjoyed slow-pitch softball and co-ed volleyball.

Jim was proud of his grandchildren and enjoyed going to their school activities and sporting events. This past fall he watched his first great-grandson participate in flag football and he also watched his grandsons participate in the Indiana Jr. Rodeo, Senior Rodeo and college Rodeo.

Jim will be sadly missed by his wife of 62 years, Suzan; his son, Rob (Leasia) Burnell and their family Ryan (Danielle), Corbin and Harper, Rachel (Billy), Brantley, Madison, and newborn twins Rilyn and Brooklyn; and his daughter, Rhonda (Stormy) Barricklow and their sons, Cord and Strand.  Additional survivors include his brother, Mike Burnell; aunt, Janet Annest; sister-in-law, Barbara Burnell, and several nieces and nephews.  Jim was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Louie “Shorty” Burnell and Dale Burnell.

Private family services will be held in the Strawmyer & Drury Mortuary, 2400 N. Lebanon Street, Lebanon. Jim will be laid to rest at Oak Hill Cemetery in Lebanon. Memorial contributions in memory of Jim may be made to Fairview Congregational Christian Church, 2565 N. 500 E., Lebanon, IN 46052 or Boone County 4-H, 1300 E. 100 S., Lebanon, IN 46052. You are invited to visit the website where you may sign his online register and leave a personal message at www.strawmyerdrury.com.

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