James Allen Eppelmann, 56, of Columbia City, died unexpectedly of natural causes at his residence on Sunday, December 18, 2022.

Born on March 6, 1966, in Defiance, Ohio, Jim was a son of Nikolai and Carol (Kuhn) Eppelmann. Beginning school in Continental, Ohio, the family then moved to Columbia City, where he graduated from Columbia City Joint High School in 1984.

He worked for Silgan Plastics in Ligonier for 20 years.

He was an avid sports fan, always keeping up with the Cleveland Browns and Indiana Hoosiers Basketball. He also enjoyed attending Columbia City High School sporting events.

Jim tragically lost his wife, Penny, and their four children, Christopher, David, Shane, and Jamie, in a motor vehicle accident on October 14, 2002. His mother, Carol, also precedes him in death.

Surviving are his two sons, James and Lucas Eppelmann; his father and stepmother, Nikolai and Sharron Eppelmann of Defiance, OH; siblings, Nikolai "Tom" (Dot) Eppelmann of Warsaw, Theresa (William) Fruit of Parker City; Michelle (Jon) Studebaker of Larwill; and several stepsiblings and adopted siblings.

The funeral service is at noon Thursday, December 29th, at Smith & Sons Funeral Home, Columbia City. The interment is at the Sparta Cemetery in Kimmell. Visitation is 10 a.m. until the service Thursday at the funeral home.

Memorials are to final expenses c/o Smith & Sons Funeral Home.