James N. Mahle's Obituary
James N. Mahle, age 75 of Batesville, died Friday, February 15, 2013 at St. Francis Hospital in Indianapolis. Born July 25, 1937 in Dayton, Ohio, he is the son of Josephine (Nee: Ruz) and James C. Mahle. He married Mary Jo Walke June 29, 1968 at St. Louis Church in Batesville. Jim was a pilot for Hillenbrand Industries 39 years before retiring. He was a member of St. Louis Church, Knights of Columbus Council #1461, the Civil Air Patrol, Experimental Aircraft Association, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, a volunteer for the Wright-Patterson Aero Space Museum during his retirement and the Cincinnati Germania Society.While Jim had many interests, he was very passionate about flying and his German heritage. A corporate pilot for nearly forty years, Jim also had his own airplane. When he wasn’t flying he was happily tinkering, repairing, improving on it or hanging out with other aviation enthusiasts. A member of the Cincinnati Germania Society, he was a regular attendee of not only their yearly festival, but the two other annual German festivals held in Cincinnati enjoying the food, drink, music and merriment. After retiring and all those years of traveling, he still liked to travel and he and Mary Jo took memorable trips to the British Isles, Thailand and of course Germany, which he said “he’d go back again without hesitation.” Jim also loved to be with friends. For thirty years, Jim and Mary Jo have hosted a Labor Day block party for their neighbors complete with food and fireworks. Never completely letting go of the little boy in him, he loved fireworks and in his opinion any occasion was a good time for them. Along with German fare, he also had a fondness for spicy foods. His homemade chili would sometimes provoke a contest or a dare to see who could eat the most before the heat became too intense. Jim was also a fan of old movies and the Turner Classic Movie Channel. Two of his favorites sayings were “spare no expense” and “it only costs a little more to fly first class.”He is survived by his wife Mary Jo; daughter Sara Drabik of Cincinnati, Ohio; son Robert Mahle of Mt. Vernon, Ohio and one grandchild. He is preceded in death by his parents. Visitation is Wednesday, February 20th, from 4-7 p.m. at the funeral home. Funeral services are 10 a.m. Thursday, February 21st at St. Louis Church with Rev. Randy Summers officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family requests memorials to Phi Beta Psi Sorority Cancer Research or St. Louis School.
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