James Landes, 88, Greenfield, passed away Saturday, July 26, 2014. He was born March 31, 1926, in Philadelphia, PA, where, at age 5 he was adopted by Carl and Martha Landes. While he was still a young child, his family moved to Chicago, and later to Merom, IN, where he met his wife, Carol Hoilman Landes, who predeceased him two months ago.
During World War II he served as a fire ranger in Shenandoah National Park, and was an orderly at the State Hospital in Ypsilanti, MI. He earned his undergraduate degree at Bluffton College, now Bluffton University, and graduate degree in microbiology from Miami (Ohio.) He and his young family, Carol and three small children, moved to Tucson when Jim gained employment with the University of Arizona, and also with the water treatment company, Infilco. In their 5 years there, the family developed many long-lasting friendships, and also became very attached to the beauty of the mountains and the Sonoran Desert, and of course, the sunshine. A new position as a bacteriologist with the Eli Lilly Greenfield Labs brought the family to Indiana in 1956.
Jim and Carol lived in Greenfield thereafter, and created another strong and caring circle of friends. Jim retired from Lilly in Corporate Quality Assurance, after 34 years. He was a hardworking volunteer in a wide assortment of local organizations, served on and led many of their boards, and was devoted to the Republican Party. It was a labor of love when he silk screened political yard signs for local Party candidates. He and Carol enjoyed the theater, symphony, opera, and traveled widely, before and after retirement.
He is survived by children, Jim Landes of Fishers, Debby (Leonard) McKenzie of Atlanta, Reah (Jerry) Smolek of Indianapolis; four grandchildren; and 2 great-granddaughters; his sister, Elfrieda (Dick) Ramseyer; and brother, Bob (Janice) Landes.
Friends may call Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Stillinger Family Funeral Home Pasco Chapel 1780 West Main Street Greenfield Indiana 46140. A memorial service will follow at 1 p.m.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer's Association Greater Indiana Chapter, 50 East 91st Street, Suite 100, Indianapolis, IN 46240-1554; or to Planned Parenthood of Indiana and Kentucky, P.O. Box 397, Indianapolis, IN 46206-0397.
Online condolences can be made by visiting www.stillingerfamilyfuneralhome.com
