James “Jim” Rea

James "Jim Bernard Rea, 70, of Indianapolis, IN, passed peacefully into eternal life on December 18, 2025, surrounded by his family. Jim was a devoted husband and father, a beloved physician, and a man of great faith.

Jim was born to Leo and Sara Jo Rea on July 19, 1955. He attended Latin School of Indianapolis, Butler University, and St. Louis University School of Medicine before serving the rest of his life as a family medicine physician. He married his high school sweetheart and best friend, Jane, with whom he lived the Sacrament of Marriage for 48 years. Together, they raised six children, the grateful beneficiaries of their love. Jim gave tirelessly to his family, coaching countless CYO basketball teams (receiving both the Monsignor Albert Busald Award and the St. John Bosco Award for coaching), attending his children's every sporting and theater event as they grew, and serving as grill master for his wife, children, and grandchildren at weekly Sunday night dinners.

Beloved by his patients and colleagues alike, Jim had a private practice for twenty-five years, caring for entire families and delivering babies, then joined the St. Vincent Primary Care Network (Ascension Medical Group), where he served ten years. After retiring in 2020, Jim continued to staff residents part-time. He was awarded St. Vincent Hospital's prestigious Distinguished Physician Award in 2014, was recognized multiple times as Family Medicine Teacher of the Year, and was frequently highlighted in Indianapolis Monthly 's annual Top Doctors list.

While his professional accolades are many, Jim's proudest accomplishment was traveling to all sixty-three U.S. National Parks over the course of many years, accompanied by Jane, his constant travel companion, and some combination of his children and their spouses.

Jim's life was marked by faith, loyalty, humility, generosity, humor, and love. He delighted in life, especially enjoying time with family, traveling, listening to good music, cheering on the Colts, and drinking a Coke, all while centering his life on Christ. Jim attended daily Mass and lived his Baptismal call to serve God and others. He humbly and gracefully accepted the burden of Parkinson's disease, maintaining his sense of humor and befriending his fellow attendees and coaches at Rock Steady Boxing. In his final earthly act of love, Jim became an organ donor, a fulfillment of his wishes and a fitting finale to his life of medical service.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, Sara Jo and Leo Rea, and brother, John Rea. Jim is survived by his wife, Jane; children, Jennifer (Danny) Klee, Matthew Rea, Katie (Joe) DeBrota, Mickey Rea (Andrea Huntington), Karen (Joe) McCann, and Stephen Rea (Brandi Hansen);grandchildren, Tressa, Rosie, Leola, and Hazel DeBrota; Kolbe and Leo Klee; and Sawyer Rea; siblings, Joe (Dorothy) Rea, Mary Anne (Bret) Kelley, Pauline Rea-Turner (Larry Turner), Julie (Kenny) Hedlund, Cathy (John) Wagner, Helen (Rob) Secor, and Tom Rea; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins, friends, and former patients.The family wishes to thank everyone who supported and prayed for Jim, especially in his final weeks, and in particular for all those who provided such excellent care for him in the ICU at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital.

A visitation for Jim will be held on Tuesday, December 23, from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. at Christ the King Catholic Church in Indianapolis, immediately followed by a Mass of Christian Burial. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Catholic Relief Services or Rock Steady Boxing. Live links to donate may be found under Jim's photo in the menu column.