James ‘Jim’ Francis Olexa passed away peacefully on November 12th 2022, aged 57 years, surrounded by his loved ones, following a courageous battle with Multiple Myeloma.
Beloved husband of Louise. Dear father of Grace, Elisabeth & Clara. Loving brother of Michael, Ann (Gary) and Paul. Caring nephew, uncle, son-in-law, cousin and friend.
Jim was born to Ruth & Francis J Olexa in 1965 in Motor City, Detroit Michigan. He had a warm, loving, family orientated childhood with summer vacations shared and enjoyed with all the cousins at the shore.
Jim completed his bachelors degree in Communications at John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio and was a proud and active member of the Iota Chi Epsilon (IXY) Fraternity.
Post graduation Jim began his work life at Enterprise Rent-A-Car which kick started a highly successful international career in the automotive industry across the USA, mainland Europe and the UK.
Jim was an avid traveller, skier, golfer and motorsports fan as well as a passionate member of the Jeep community and in his later years derived much joy from running the UK Jeep Owners Club.
Jim was a kind hearted, happy, generous, charismatic, fun, inspirational and loving man with a phenomenal zest for life and the brightest smile. He had an uncanny ability to make the most of every day, facing life’s challenges with tremendous strength and courage and, always giving it his all.
Jim will be missed greatly by his family and friends who will continue to honour his legacy by embracing all that life has to offer.
He may be gone but he will never be forgotten.
We welcome you to join us in bidding farewell to and in celebrating the life of our beloved Jim on Tuesday 29th November 2022.
Service : St Marie’s Catholic Church
Address: Oak St, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV22 5EL
Time: 11:30am
Burial: Princethorpe Cemetery
Address: Leamington Road, Princethorpe, Rugby, CV23 9PY
Directions: Please follows signs for Princethrope College
Time: 1:15pm
We kindly request that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made in memory of Jim to a cause that he held very dear, the ‘Haematology Fund 13-5-809’ at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. All donations will help to support the department that harvested Jim’s stem cells for his transplants thus giving him another extremely precious year of life. These may either be placed in the donation box after the service or sent to:
Walton & Taylor Ltd
Independent Funeral Directors
16 Railway Terrace
Rugby
Warwickshire
CV21 3EW
ENGLAND
Tel: 01788 543008
info@waltonandtalyor.co.uk
www.waltonandtalyor.co.uk
I wish I could find a photo of our senior trip from Bishop Gallagher High School in Harper Woods , MI. Jim and his family were kind enough to extend an invitation and were great hosts in Myrtle Beach North Carolina. I enjoyed watching his Jeep exploits and am sorry this portion of his life journey has come to an end. God's richest blessings to Jim's family and friends!
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