James J. Stark

OBITUARY

OSSIAN. JIM STARK, 73, passed away peacefully at his home in Ossian on Friday, Nov. 20, 2015. Jim was an inventor,entrepreneur, pilot, musician, writer, woodworker, workshop tinkerer, mechanic, oil guru, story teller, and all-around interesting guy. He enjoyed happy hour (three beer limit unless scotch was available), cigars, singing, playing guitar and the ukulele, traveling and camping with his wife Kathy, passionately rooting for Purdue, hot tubbing, writing stories, John Prine music, and checking himself out of the hospital. Jim and Kathy played music wherever they went on their travels across the country. He founded Blackstone Laboratories in 1985, a world-class oil analysis company devoted to helping people learn more about the engines and machines by testing oil. He started this company with his brothers Bob and John, and was later joined by his son, Ryan, daughter Kristin, and a whole host of dedicated hardworking employees. His retirement project was building his own airplane - a Van's RV - 12 kit plane. He survived a tour in Vietnam (A First Calvary helicopter mechanic), two heart attacks and two heart surgeries, jumping out of an airplane when he was 70 (barely), and the doctors in Indianapolis before lung cancer and a fall got him in the end. He is survived by his beloved wife, Kathy; children, Kristin (Brad) and Ryan (Sheri); stepchildren, Brandi (Dan) and Frank (Betsy); brothers Bill (Linda) and Bob (Mary); sister, Kathy (Matt); grandchildren, Sophie, Kyle, Aiden, Natalie, Ezra, and Abigail; and dog Peaches. He was preceded in death by his parents, Irene and Bill; brothers, Dan and John; sister, Jude; and his granddaughter, Lydia. 'His spirit is among the stars, and he will be greatly missed by all who loved him.' Funeral service is 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2015, at Elzey-Patterson-Rodak Funeral Home, 120 West Mill Street, Ossian, (IN 46777) with visitation starting at 11 a.m. on Tuesday. Burial will be in Poe Williamsport Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Heartland Hospice. [Fort Wayne Journal Gazette, Monday, November 23, 2015, pg. 2C]