James L. Humphrey

James L. “Jim” Humphrey, 81, of Berne, Ind., went home to be with his Lord and Savior at 10:10 a.m. on Jan. 31, 2021, at Swiss Village Retirement Center in Berne. He was born on Feb. 22, 1939, in Elgin, Ill., to Charles and Arlene (Stewart) Humphrey. He was married to Annabelle (Annie) Amstutz, the love of his life, on Oct. 19, 1963, in Elgin. Jim graduated from Case Institute of Technology in1961 with a degree in Chemical Engineering and was a member of Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. He later attended Wheaton College Graduate School for Biblical Studies.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Elgin, serving in many capacities, notably as church moderator. Upon moving to Green Lake, Wisc., he attended the Terrace Shores Evangelical Free Church. After moving to Berne in 2014, Jim and Annie attended First Mennonite Church.

Jim was employed at Universal Oil Products in McCook, Ill., where he was a pilot plant engineer. His interest in fire and burglary prevention led to employment with Chicago Fire and Burglar Co. in Glen Ellyn, Ill. In 1966, he began his own company, Securitronics, Inc. in Palatine, Ill., where he designed, installed and serviced burglar and fire alarm systems for homes and businesses. He successfully operated this business for the next 20 years before selling the business to a national alarm company. He then used his engineering design skills to perfect the Suitmate for Extractor Corporation of South Elgin and brought the product to Underwriters Laboratory approval. After employment with Fox Valley Fire and Safety Co. in Elgin, he began purchasing and managing real estate investments.

Jim and Annie enjoyed a second home, which he designed and constructed, on Green Lake, Wisc. Jim loved the waterfront activities of water skiing, boating, fishing, entertaining families and friends and working on numerous projects. He was a member of the Green Lake Association and served on committees to promote and maintain the water quality of Green Lake.

Jim served as a mentor to young men who needed extra help in navigating life’s challenges. He was a storyteller to his grandchildren, sharing many of his adventures growing up. He loved studying the ecosystem of the Sonoran Desert while wintering in Tucson, Arizona, in his later years.

He is survived by his wife of Berne; one daughter, Naomi (Roger) Muselman of Berne; two sons, Ted (Cherie) Humphrey of Palatine, Ill., and John (Tracy) Humphrey of Lombard, Ill.; sister, Jeanine (George) McNabney of Elgin, Ill.; two sisters-in-law, Marilyn Stucky of Pretty Prairie, Kansas, and Lucy Fawley of Winona Lake; nine grandchildren, Sarah Muselman, Mark (Natalee) Muselman, David Muselman, Jeremy Humphrey, Jaedon Humphrey, Elisha Humphrey, Reagan Humphrey, Cole Humphrey and Elliot Humphrey; three nieces, Kathy Trim, Wendy Cermack and Kim Morris; and three nephews, Dennis Stucky, Lynn Stucky and Scott McNabney.

He was preceded in death by his parents and brother, Jack Humphrey.

Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6, 2021, at First Mennonite Church in Berne, Ind., with Pastor Jim Schwartz and Swiss Village Chaplain Mike Wertenberger officiating. Interment will follow in the M.R.E. Cemetery.

Family and friends will be received from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at First Mennonite Church prior to the service on Saturday.

Preferred memorials may be made to Swiss Village Samaritan’s Endowment Fund or Alzheimer’s Association of Greater Indiana.

Arrangements provided by Zwick & Jahn Funeral Home, Yager-Kirchhofer Chapel in Berne, Ind.