Date of death: 5/25/2013
Saint Meinrad Class: O 1959
James Leon Will, Sr., age 79, of Evansville, passed away Saturday, May 25, 2013 while at Lake Barkley with his family.Mr. Will founded the James L. Will Insurance Agency and retired from there in 1999. He was also a founder and Senior partner of Freeman, Will and Niemeier Financial Services and former owner of Fore Investments, K & W Farms and K & W Leasing.Jim had a longtime dedication to the University of Southern Indiana, where he served on the Board of Directors until 1995. He was currently a member of the Advisory Council at USI, longtime member and Past President of the USI Varsity Club and a member of the USI Coaches Club. He was appointed to the University of Southern Indiana Board of Trustees in 1996 and served as Chair in 1999. Jim was a board member of Southern Indiana Higher Education, Inc.; honorary lifetime Board Member of the Evansville Boys’ and Girls’ Club; member of the President’s Club of Cincinnati Insurance Company; former member of Board of Directors of Evansville Water and Sewer Utility Company; former 23 year member of Board and Executive Committee member of Citizens National Bank/Fifth Third Bank. In 1988, Jim was awarded the Sagamores of the Wabash by Governor Robert Orr. He was the former president and four year member of Vanderburgh County Plan Commission; former six year member of Evansville Airport Authority; lifetime honorary member and past president of the Westside Nut Club where he had been a member since 1963; former member of West Side Business and Professional Men’s Association; board member of the St. Anthony Family Center and Soup Kitchen; former board member of Catholic Foundation of Southwestern Indiana, Inc.; former board member of the Catholic Education Foundation; member of Saint Meinrad Alumni Association; member of the Evansville Kennel Club; member of Mater Dei Friends and Alumni Association; member of Knights of Columbus and a 25 year member of the Evansville Country Club. Jim was a longtime member of Resurrection Catholic Church where he was an active volunteer serving on the Parish Council; as finance chairman and new building chairman. Jim was an avid golfer; had seven holes in one and shot his age at the age of 78. He was presently a member of the Cambridge Golf Club and Helfrich Hills Men’s Club.Surviving Jim are his wife of 58 years, Eileen H. (Berendes) Will; four daughters, Lynn (Bob) Reed and Leann (Chad) Sander, both of Evansville; Lauri (Patrick) Koster of St. Louis, MO and Lesley (Jeff) Bertrand of Fishers, IN; a son, James L. (Karen) Will, Jr. of Evansville; ten grandchildren, Jennifer (Michael) Elsner; Hannah and Ellie Sander, Will, Claire and Callaghan Koster, Sarah and Mitchell Bertrand and Kayley and Lindsey Will and a great grandson, Henry Elsner.Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph J. and Agnes (Hoefling) Will and a sister, Betty Jo Coleman.A Mass of Christian Burial will take place at 10:30 A.M. on Thursday, May 30, 2013 at Resurrection Catholic Church, Rev. Phil Kreinlein officiating. Entombment will follow in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.Friends may visit with the family from 1:00 until 8:00 P.M. on Wednesday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street. Visiting will conclude with a memorial service conducted by the church at 8:00 P.M. Friends may also visit with the family from 9:30 A.M. until service time on Thursday at Resurrection. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mater Dei Full of Grace Capital Campaign, Resurrection Catholic Church, the USI Foundation, Birth Right of Evansville or the Boys’ and Girls’ Club of Evansville.Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.