Jimmie (Jim) Keith Cellner

Jimmie (Jim) Keith Cellner, age 86, of Meadows Place and The Woodlands, Texas, passed away on June 21, 2025. He was the only child born to Lonnie (Bus) and Rotha Cellner in Joplin, Missouri on October 29, 1938. He was a happy boy who was incredibly loved and fortunate enough to grow up surrounded by lots of family and his little dog Tip.

After graduating from Joplin High School, Jim worked as a brick mason with his dad and uncles before attending college in Rolla, Missouri. Jim escaped the cold winters of Missouri in 1960 by joining the US Navy. He was stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii for 4 years. (Not bad!) He sailed the South Pacific seas for over three years on the USS Philip as a radarman, served a few months in Japan, then sailed the cold waters of the Bering Sea during his final months of service on the USS Newell.

Jim was hired by GSI, a division of Texas Instruments, and moved to Dallas. There he met the love of his life Rhonda while living above her and her roommate in their apartment complex. Jim instantly knew that Rhonda was the one for him when he saw her for the first time sitting by the pool, shelling peas with her hair wrapped in giant rollers. They dated for one year and married on September 4, 1965. Jim was transferred to Houston for two years, then to Purley, Surrey, England for four years where daughter Kandi and son Doug were born. They toured all over Europe every chance they got. Jim's final transfer was to Stafford, now known as Meadows Place, Texas, in 1971 where son Rodney was born. By then Jim worked for Texas Instruments where he remained for 35 years.

After retirement Jim created and ran Cellner Video Productions, his son Doug working by his side. He then took a position at the Sugar Land State Prison for 8 years.

Jim and Rhonda raised their kids and lived in their Meadows Place home for 52 years before moving to The Woodlands in 2022. Jim remained completely devoted to his precious wife of 57 years even after her passing nearly three years ago.

Jim was unbelievably patient and always kind. Always wanting to help others. He was a good friend and a good neighbor. He loved cars, travel, the color red, hamburgers, ginger snaps, iced tea and coffee (with two sweet and lows), pepper (lots & lots of pepper!), music, colorful flowers, the Teton Mountains, Hawaii, photography and reading magazines. Jim loved all people, especially those who would listen to his many stories. He was the GREATEST dad a kid could ever hope for. He was always present when healing our hearts and cheering us kids on as we played ball or performed on stage. He loved being Papa to his 5 grandkids.

"I've had a fantastic life" Dad shared near the end. And because of him, we too have too.

Those left to cherish Jim's memory are daughter Kandi Meisinger and husband Ron, grandsons Brett Meisinger (Seth) and Mitch Meisinger; Doug Cellner and wife Kaye, granddaughter Adrienne Cellner and grandson Alex Cellner; son Rodney Cellner and grandson Dawson Cellner; sister-in-law Karen Patterson.

The family will gather at a later time to celebrate Jim's fantastic life.