Submitted by: Dan Rich
South Bend Tribune 5/15/2008
SOUTH BEND - James A. Baumgartner, 57, of South Bend,
passed away at 2:48 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2008, in Memorial
Hospital, South Bend. Jim was born on April 18, 1951, in
Alexandria, IN, to the late Albert Henry Baumgartner and Betty (Trimble)
Baumgartner Harman. He had lived most of his life in South Bend,
but spent several years in both Warsaw and Bloomington, IN. He
always considered Alexandria his home.
On August 5, 1972, in South Bend, he married
the former Kathryn Rys, who survives. Along with his wife
Kathy, survivors include their son, Nicholas A. Baumgartner of
Muncie; two sisters, Nancy (Jim) McCaslin of South Bend
and Deedie (Chuck) Herndon of Frankfort, IN; and his late
mother's husband, Eric Harman of Warsaw. Jim was formerly
employed at Indiana University at Bloomington and Indiana
University, South Bend, as coordinator of the Disabled Students
Services Office. While residing in Warsaw, he and Kathy owned and
operated Baumgartner's Restaurant. Jim was also the coordinator
of volunteer services at the College Football Hall of Fame for
the past seven years. He was a member of the Clay Township Lions
Club and is a past district governor of District G. He was also a
member of the Masonic Lodge in Warsaw, Scottish Rite and Mizpah
Shrine. He was a graduate of Indiana University at Bloomington
and a true Hoosier fan. Jim helped form and served as president
of the Kosciusko Co. Indiana University Alumni Association for
which he received the President's Award. He was an Alumni
Association Life Member and a member of the Varsity Club.
A memorial service will be held at 3:00 p.m.
on Saturday, May 17, in the Palmer Funeral Home-River Park, 2528
Mishawaka Avenue, South Bend. Friends may visit with the family
from 1 to 3 p.m. on SaturdayContributions in memory of James A.
Baumgartner may be made to the Varsity Club at Indiana
University, Bloomington, or to the Centre Township Lions Eye
Glass Mission.