Rev. James B. Jordan

1943 - 2020

Reverend James B. Jordan, 77, formerly of Columbia City, died at 5:35 a.m. Saturday, December 19, 2020, at Peabody Retirement Community, where he was a resident for the past eight years. 
He was born November 3, 1943, in Indianapolis, Indiana, a son of the late Joseph William and Mary Wilma (Griggs) Jordan. In 1946, his family moved to Logansport until 1954, when they moved to Franklin. He graduated from Franklin High School in 1962 and received a B.S. degree from Purdue University in 1968.
On August 30, 1964, he married Jerilyn Ostler. Married for 34 years, they had four sons. From 1968 until 1978, they lived in Indianapolis. James was supervisor of manufacturing at Detroit-Diesel Allison Division of General Motors. In 1978, they moved to Frankfort, where he served as Director of Christian Education at First Presbyterian Church from 1978 until 1981.
After receiving his Master of Divinity in 1985 from McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, he became Pastor of Troy Presbyterian Church, Columbia City. In 1998, he moved to Warsaw and began working as a church consultant at Scearce Rudisel Architects in Warsaw until his retirement in January 2007.
On March 20, 1999, he married Mary Ellen (Gradeless) Rudisel. They made their home in Warsaw. Mrs. Jordan was killed in a car accident on July 18, 2013. Following her death, Jim moved to North Manchester, becoming a resident of Peabody Retirement Community.
A member of Warsaw Optimist Club, he was also a former member of Kiwanis of Warsaw, Columbia City Rotary, co-founder & past board member of Somebody Cares Inc. of Whitley County, Business Steering Committee Member of Passages Inc., Ethics Committee at Whitley Memorial Hospital, Health Services Committee at Whitley Memorial Hospital, and Chairman of Building Committee of Geneva Center (a Presbyterian Retreat & Conference Center in Rochester). For many years, beginning in 2004 he was the 50 Somethings connection leader at Warsaw Community Church.
Surviving relatives include; four sons, Joseph A. (Jeanette) Jordan of Columbia City, Bradley A.(Brenda Goeken) Jordan of Noblesville, Randall L. (Jodie) Jordan of Kendallville, and Kevin R. (Jill) Jordan of Columbia City and their mother, Jerilyn Geiger of Columbia City; step-children, Leanna (Jeff) Anderson of Irvine CA, Stephen (Alex) Rudisel of Lafayette, Daniel Rudisel, serving with the U.S. Army; 15 grandchildren, three great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mary Jo (Carey "Buzz") Arney of Shelbyville and Linda Teter of Franklin.
A private funeral service will be held at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. Interment will be in the Oakwood Cemetery in Warsaw.
Preferred memorials are to the Way-Maker Trust Fund c/o the Kosciusko Community Foundation. Condolences may be sent to www.smithandsonsfuneralhome.com.