James "Jim" Cornell Sr.

James “Jim” L Cornell, Sr., 82, went home to his Lord and Savior on Saturday, December 12, 2020. He had fought Parkinson’s Disease with courage and faith for a number of years. He was born on March 19, 1938, in Martin, OH, to Olive and Clyde Cornell. He was an identical twin, with his brother Bob being the firstborn. The story is told that their dad’s wedding ring fit around Jim’s tiny wrist. Jim married Charlotte Knieriem on March 24, 1956, and she survives him.
Jim worked at Materion (the former Brush-Wellman) for 55 years, retiring in May 2011. Jim was proud of having the longest employment of any employee at the plant. He started at the Luckey plant immediately after graduation from high school in 1956.
Over the years, Jim was involved in the CB radio world with a handle of “Sideburns.” Back in the day, he had some pretty massive sideburns that he carefully groomed. In his later years, Jim loved doing yard work and would usually be found out on his mower somewhere in the fields surrounding his house. He said he would talk to God as he mowed.
Jim is remembered as a man who lived the Gospel message, always seeing the good in everyone and accepting them where they were.  He was a member of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Genoa, at the time of his death. He had been involved in church leadership and hospital ministry at a previous church. He also served at the Genoa Food Pantry for a number of years. Jim always offered a prayer and encouragement.
Jim is best known in the community for riding his bike around Genoa, stopping to talk to folks and handing out gumballs. His dad used to give out apples, but Jim said gumballs were much easier to carry around! His family joked that he should be on the Christmas lists of area dentists!
The greatest joys for Jim were his faith and his family. He supported and loved his family unconditionally. In addition to his wife, Charlotte, Jim is survived by his daughters, Dawn (Dan) Balduf and Cyndi (Ken) Brown and his son, James Jr (Barb). His grandchildren are Jason (Angie) Balduf, Mandi (Kristina) Balduf-Luckett, Ken Brown Jr, Lauren (Jack) Jones, Ben Cornell, and Jake Cornell and great-children, Addison Balduf, Vincenza and Marin Brown, and Griffin, Charlotte and Jack Jr Jones. He is also survived by his twin brother, Robert Cornell and his sister-in-law, Jan (Dennis) Jones and his niece, Melissa (John) Bowlander and nephews, Justin (Connie) Cornell and Stephen Bliss and their families.  He was predeceased by his twin great-granddaughters, Taylor and Kendall.
A Celebration of Life for Jim will be held in March with arrangements by Robinson-Walker Funeral Home & Crematory, Genoa.  His family would like to thank the staff of Parkcliffe Community, Bldg 3, for their loving care of Jim over the past 1 ½ years. They also appreciate the support and care by Hospice of Northwest Ohio over the past two months. Memorial contributions can be made in Jim’s memory to St. John’s United Church of Christ, Genoa, youth fund, or to the Genoa Food Pantry.  Online condolences to the family may be made at walkerfuneralhomes.com.