ATHENS -James Morgan Stewart, age 72, of Athens, Ohio, died on Sunday October 8, 2023, at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. He had an extended illness.
Born November 8,1950 in Athens, Ohio, he was the son of the late Joseph and Joan Gandee Stewart.
Jim was a retired Colonel with the U.S. Army. He entered retirement in 2003 after 30 years of service in both active military and reserves. He served most of his time in Germany and German became his primary language. He graduated from Athens High School and Ohio University taking ROTC. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in Field Artillery on June 9,1973. He served at several bases including Ft Sill, OK, Ft Stewart, GA, Defense language training in Monterey, CA, Ft Hood, TX, Wuerzburg, Germany, Frankfurt, Germany, Zweibruechen, Germany, active in Desert Storm, Pirmasens, Germany, Wiesbaden, Germany, Hungary, Mountain Home, ID, and West Point, NY. He then retired after 30 years of service in the civilian sector in 2013.
Jim married his wife, Sonja Frohlich, in Denmark in 1999. They later had a second wedding service at the annual Chambers family reunion. They primarily lived in Germany and had frequent visits back to Athens. Sadley, Sonja passed away in 2015.
In retirement, he was active with the VFW and regularly attended veteran’s funerals, football games and many other sporting events. He enjoyed antique car shows. He was an avid traveler and returned frequently to Wiesbaden, Germany to visit friends and relatives. He also enjoyed spending time with his “Burger King” friends.
He is survived by his dearest cousins, Lisa (Paul) Freter of Dublin, OH, John (Carol) Gandee of Hamilton, OH, and Mark (Susan) Gandee of Richmond, TX, in addition to several other Chambers cousins.
Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Sonja Stewart; a sister, Sally Jo Mullins; his maternal grandparents, D.I. and Sally Chambers Gandee; and a family friend, Stanley “Sarge” Komoroski (Retired U.S. Army CSM).
Funeral Service will be conducted Tuesday, Oct. 17th at 11:00 a.m. at Jagers & Sons Funeral Home, Athens, Ohio, with Father Donald Horak officiating. Interment will follow in Alexander Cemetery, Hebbardsville. Friends may call Monday 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Albany VFW 9893 and K.T. Crossen Post 21 American Legion Honor Guards will be conducting Military Rites at the cemetery. Refreshments will be served at the Albany VFW Post following the funeral. In lieu of flowers please donate in James Stewart’s name to VFW Post 9893, 3025 Dickson Rd, Albany, OH 45710. Please share a memory, a note of condolence or sign the online register at www.jagersfuneralhome.com.
