James Roger Sisson, 82, was called home to be with the Lord on Thursday, May 25 at 1:50 pm. He was born March 13, 1935 to Howard and Ethel (Glassburn) Sisson in Galveston, Indiana.  He graduated from Young America High School in 1953 and attended IU Kokomo. On December 26, 1957, he married Marilyn “Jeanne” Minneman in Young America, Indiana. He then served 2 years in the U.S. Army and was stationed in Germany for 17 months.

Jim apprenticed in Machine Repair at Chrysler and later became a General Foreman of Maintenance.  He was excellent at diagnosing hydraulic problems in the plant, and continued to work as a consultant for 10 years after his retirement in 1990.

Jim was a leader of two different bluegrass bands.  The Cornpickers were a Kokomo group consisting of Jim, Bruce Keck, Emory Cupp, Paul Johnson, Donna Keck, and son-in-law Brad Bahler.  The Bluegrass Travelers in Sebring, Florida, included members from different parts of Indiana and Ohio.  Jim played five-string banjo, fiddle and harmonica.  He even managed to play a song by placing a harmonica inside his mouth and accompany himself on the guitar or banjo at the same time He was always a Galveston resident until moving to Kokomo in 2015.  He has been a member of the First Baptist Church of Galveston since 1961, and was formerly the president of the Galveston Lions Club. Jim was also an avid golfer, and logged many hours on the course with Max Quirk, Ned Johnson, and Dan Kitchel.

He is survived by wife Jeanne, his 3 children: Karen (Brad) Bahler, Brenda (Dennis) Davidson, and Rick (Kim) Sisson; 10 grandchildren: Rob, Phil, John (Elizabeth), and David Bahler, Scott (Samantha) Duttlinger, Rachel (James) Henke, and Adam, Jacob, Matt, and Alex Sisson; and 1 great-granddaughter: Lillian Jeanne Bahler.  He is also survived by his sister Phyllis Metcalf and sister-in-law Mary Ellen Sisson. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Michael, brothers-in-law John Metcalf, Bill Shaw, and Larry Minneman, a niece Judy Ludwig, and several aunts and uncles.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, June 1st, 2017 at First Baptist Church in Galveston, 207 S.  Sycamore St. with Rev. Sean Cooper officiating.  Burial will follow at Galveston Cemetery.  Visitation will take place from 4 – 8 p.m. Wednesday, May 31st also at First Baptist Church in Galveston.  Condolences may be sent to Jim’s family at www.murrayweaverfuneralhome.com   Murray Weaver Funeral Home in Galveston has been entrusted with arrangements.

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