James Edward Lonaker

SERVICES: 1:00 p.m. Friday, February 26, 2016 at Jewell-Rittman Family Funeral Home with Military Honors performed by the Bartholomew County Veterans Honor GuardOFFICIATING CLERGY: Rev. Mike BiggsFINAL RESTING PLACE: Garland Brook CemeteryVISITATION: 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. Thursday, February 25, with visitation from 11:00 until service time on FridayMEMORIAL DONATIONS: Bartholomew County Humane Society and the Wounded WarriorsTo view James's memorial video, please CLICK HERE James Edward Lonaker, 62, of Hartsville, also known as “Jimmy the Lip Lonaker”, died at 11:28 p.m. February 21st, 2016 at IU Health Methodist in Indianapolis.   James was born September 3, 1953 in a one bedroom house in the small town of Austin, Indiana; where he lived with his father and mother, Chester and Bert, and four other siblings.  James later moved to Columbus and graduated from Columbus High School, where he met his first wife, Toni Schultz.  James and Toni married after high school and started their family in Hope, Indiana.  James and Toni have two children together; a son, James R., aka “Corky”, and a daughter, Juli.  James and Toni were married for 35 years before divorcing, but remained very close friends. During his early adult years, James involved himself in many things from town deputy to enlisting in the Army where he received a medical discharge.  James is most known for his involvement in the boxing community which led to many endeavors all over the United States and the world.  James touched the lives of many area youth through boxing, creating long lasting relationships; many of whom he considered as his own sons. In more recent years, James married Jennyrose Rivera from Bogo City, Philippines.  They have two sons together, Chester James and Tyler James.  James and Jennyrose split their time between Hartsville, Indiana and the Phillippines where James was in the process of building a resort called Coffeepot Curve Springs Resort, inspired by an establishment from James’ youth in Austin, Indiana.  Although James left this world too soon, he lived a full and extraordinary life during those 62 years.  James loved and lived overwhelmingly and will never be forgotten. Survivors include his wife, Jennyrose Rivera Lonaker of Hartsville; sons, James “Corky” Lonaker of Noblesville and Chester James Lonaker and Tyler James Lonaker, both of Hartsville; a daughter, Juli K. Lonaker of Columbus; his former wife, Toni Lonaker of Columbus; a brother Troy Wombles of Columbus; sisters, Mary (Steve Cohen) Laudick and Helen (Ronald) Keller, both of Hope; and two grandchildren, Noah Lonaker and Lainey Lonaker, both of Noblesville. James was preceded in death by his father, Chester Lonaker and mother, Roberta Cecil Vaughn; sister Betty Garrison; and brother, William Lonaker.