James L. Siegmann

James "Jim" L. Siegmann, 78, died Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024, at his home in Goshen after a short time under hospice care. He was born Sept. 24, 1946, in Ashland, Ohio, to Leslie and Frances (Shiffler) Siegmann. The family moved to Goshen when Jim was 5 as Leslie opened a print shop, Siegmann Printing Co.

Jim was married to the love of his life, LaRayne M. Siegmann (Lauber) for 45 years after marrying in Goshen, on June 30, 1973. He was immensely proud of their twin boys and loved to tell anyone and everyone about them. The family enjoyed singing together, traveling, fishing, boating and vacationing at their beloved Watervale. LaRayne preceded him in death on April 14, 2018.

Jim was a Goshen High School graduate and earned a bachelor's degree at Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, Michigan. At age 21 he returned to Goshen to run the family printing business after the death of his father. Under his leadership, from 1967 to 2003, Siegmann Printing Co. and later Impressions Inc., grew to serve clients across Indiana and Michigan. Jim joined the Rotary Club of Goshen shortly after taking over the business and was an active member for over 50 years and past president. He was involved in a wide variety of civic organizations, including serving as a past president of the United Way of Indiana. Jim served on the White House Conference on Small Business under the Carter administration and was a member of Gov. Robert Orr's Counsel of Sagamores of the Wabash. After selling Impressions, Jim went on to work with the Community Foundation of Elkhart County from 2005 until his retirement in 2015. Jim regarded his work with the foundation as some of the most important of his life and felt deep accomplishment in the ways he was able to contribute to the betterment of Elkhart County through this effort.

Jim was a member of First English Lutheran Church (now Faith Lutheran) for over 70 years and was deeply committed to supporting others in their spiritual journeys. He loved meeting friends for coffee to discuss life and faith at the Electric Brew, where he was known as "Batman." Jim was a friend and mentor to many in the Goshen and Elkhart area and will be deeply missed in the community and by his family.

He is survived by his sons, Adrian J. (Caroline) Siegmann, Redmond, Oregon, and Jason S. (Havilah) Siegmann, Grand Rapids, Michigan; nine grandchildren, Elaina, Emerald, Christopher, Phoebe, Nathan, Elodie, Julia, Benjamin and Asher; a sister, Ann Beard (Siegmann), New Castle, Indiana; brother-in-law John (Mary) Lauber, Brownsville, Nebraska, and sisters-in-law Shirley Ulrich, Hesston, Kansas, and Lois (Glenn) Zook, Dublin, Ohio.

Friends may call Sunday, Dec. 29, at Yoder-Culp Funeral Home, Goshen, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m.

A funeral service will be conducted at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 30, at Faith Lutheran Church, 202 S. Greene Road, Goshen, with the Rev. Jessica King officiating. A meal will be held in the fellowship hall after the service.

Memorial gifts may be directed through Faith Lutheran Church or the Community Foundation of Elkhart County.