James Bourk

LIMA -- James E. "Jim" Bourk, 92, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

Jim was born April 13, 1932, in Lima, Ohio to the late John Donald, Sr. and Dorothy Ferry Bourk. In July 1960, he married Judith A. Fender with whom he had four children. One of the five Grand Avenue Bourks and present patriarch of the Bourk clan, he was intensely proud of his large Irish family, a fact celebrated each year at the Lima Irish Parade.

Jim graduated in 1950 from St. Rose Catholic High School where he served as senior class president. He joined the United States Air Force in 1951 and was stationed in Berlin, Germany until he was honorably discharged in 1955. Jim was employed at Teledyne Ohio Steel for 32 years and worked his way up from the foundry laboratory to manager of foundry operations. After his retirement from Teledyne in 1991, he worked for the City of Lima in the Public Works Department as Administrator of Streets. Following his retirement from the city in 2002, he could still be found managing logistics for the Star Spangled Spectacular each July 4th.

A devoted Catholic, Jim was baptized at St. Rose Catholic Church and was a lifelong and active member of the parish. Throughout the years, his volunteer service to St. Rose included membership on the Parish Finance and Restoration committees and as head usher and Eucharistic Minister. In 2003, he was named St. Rose Parish volunteer of the year and 2011 he was honored with the Diocese of Toledo's Centenary Award for Outstanding Service. Jim's service to the Lima and Catholic communities was recognized by his induction into the Lima Central Catholic High School Hall of Fame as the 2016 Community Service award recipient.

A lifelong resident of Lima, Jim was full of civic pride and deeply committed to serving his community. Most notably, he was instrumental in bringing commerce and the arts to Lima through his volunteer work in the planning and development of the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center. In acknowledgement of his service, the Civic Center Board honored Jim with its lifetime achievement award in 2010.

Jim started following the Cleveland Indians/Guardians when they last won the World Series in 1948 and remained a loyal fan of the team throughout the bad, middling, and good years, with the steadfast hope that the Commissioner's Trophy might someday return to Cleveland.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Judith A. Bourk of Lima; sons, James Christopher Bourk of Covington, KY and John Bourk of Lima; daughters, Amy (John) McDade of Baltimore, MD and Heather (Michael Lind) Bourk of Washington DC; granddaughter, Maeve McDade of Baltimore, MD; sisters-in-law, Gloria "Sadie" Bourk of Lima, Joann (Bill-d) Fender of Lima, Jean Fender of Columbus, Janet (Dennis) Thompson of Lincoln, CA, Ann (John) Bixler of Columbus, and Mary (Bruce) Sink of Chandler, AZ; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, Jim was preceded in death by brothers, John D. Bourk, Joseph P. Bourk, and William M. Bourk; sister, Dorothy A. Johnson; brother-in-law, Thomas Johnson; nephew, Scott Johnson; and granddaughter, Nancy Ann McDade.

The family would like to express it thanks to the team at Mercy Health Hospice and Paige Norton Fay for the compassionate care they provided.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, December 12, 2024, at St. Rose Catholic Church, 479 North West Street, Lima, Ohio 45801. Reverend David M. Ross will officiate the service. Military Honors will be provided by the United States Air Force and VFW #1275. Private interment will be at a later date.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 11, at Chiles-Laman Funeral and Cremation Services, Shawnee Chapel, 1170 Shawnee Road, Lima, Ohio 45805. A Prayer Service will take place at 8:00 p.m., following the visitation.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Rose Catholic Church or Lima Central Catholic High School.

Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.