James William Brennan Sr.

Jim passed away peacefully at home in the early morning hours of December 31, 2025, at the age of 91.  He was born on May 19, 1934 in South Bend to William F. Brennan and Rhoda (Williams) Brennan, who preceded him in death.  He also was preceded in death by his brothers, Bernard Brennan and Robert Brennan.

Jim was a graduate of John Adams High School and Indiana University with a degree in Finance.  After graduating from Indiana University, he served in the U.S. Army after going through ROTC in college.   He built a successful insurance and investment business, and was thrilled when his son, Jim, II, joined the business and now grandson Kevin has joined.  He was a member of the Million Dollar Round Table and past president of the Northern Indiana Chapter of the United Life Underwriters.  He also served on the board of Morris Park Country Club, where he was a member for almost 53 years.   He loved to play golf and taught his children and wife, Carol, how to play (and she had fun teasing him that she got a hole in one before he did). He loved the friendships he had with the men in the “Nooners” golf group and played in many tournaments at Morris Park.

On September 30, 1983, Jim married the former Carol (Fiedler) Smith and began 42 years of a wonderful marriage which included many trips, winters in Hawaii and Arizona, and good family times.  He is survived by his wife, Carol, and son James, II (Audra) of Mishawaka, daughter Amanda Abel of Ft. Myers, Florida, step-sons Jason Smith (Shannon) of Goshen, and Nathan Smith of Mishawaka.  He is also survived by 9 grandchildren-- Heather Braniff of Mishawaka; Kevin Brennan (Tricia) of Mishawaka; Nicholas Abel (Sarah) of Folsom, California; Elizabeth Morse (Jared) of Nashville, Tennessee; Katherine Hamborg (Anders) of Huntington Beach, California; Ingrid Abel (Tom Ryan) of Camarillo, California; Annika Smith (Jenaro Delprete) of Costa Mesa, California; Lilly Smith, a student at Indiana University in Bloomington; and Cameron Smith of Granger.  Also surviving are 9 great-grandchildren-- Claire and Ethan Braniff; Kamea, Dalia, and Makai Abel; Charlotte and Ayla Morse; Theo Hamborg; and Kennedy Brennan.   A tenth great-grandchild is due in March. 

Visitation for Jim will be held on Friday, January 16, 2026, from 4:00-7:00 PM at the Palmer Welsheimer Chapel, 17033 Cleveland Road, South Bend.  Funeral services will be held at Christ the King Lutheran Church on Saturday, January 17, 2026, at 10:00 AM, 17195 Cleveland Road, South Bend.  Jim’s ashes will be interred in the Columbarium at Christ the King Lutheran Church at a later date.  Memorial contributions may be made to Christ the King Lutheran Church or to First Tee, P.O Box 385, South Bend, 46624 (or online at www.firstteeindiana.org ( Michiana).

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