James Steele, 83, Fort Myers Beach
James H. Steele, 83, passed away suddenly this past week. He was born 1/6/1942 in Anderson, Indiana the son of James and Margaret Steele. Jim was a graduate of Anderson High School where he spent his summers working for his dad, at Steele’s Glass & Auto Parts. Jim attended Purdue University where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity and graduated with a degree in Industrial Engineering. It was at Purdue Jim acquired the nickname “Stainless.”
Jim served in the Army Reserves as a Supply Clerk operating primarily out of Fort McCoy, WI. He started his career as a Loan/Trust Officer for Anderson Banking Company. He then began a long and distinguished career in public service as the Controller of the City of Anderson under Mayor Tom McMahan. He went on to serve as the Executive Director of the Indiana Bond Bank. Jim served under both Mayor Bill Hudnut and Steve Goldsmith as the Controller of the City of Indianapolis. He later served as the CFO for the Indianapolis City-County Council. Jim was awarded the State of Indiana’s highest award for service–the Sagamore of the Wabash.
Upon retirement, Jim moved to the Town of Fort Myers Beach (FMB), Florida where he continued his public service as a volunteer on the Local Planning Agency, the Audit Committee and the Board of the Friends of the Mound House. On two separate occasions, Jim was called upon to serve as the interim Town Manager. He also enjoyed serving as Commissioner of his FMB Sunday morning golf league.
He was predeceased by his older sister Kathleen Atterholt and is survived by his twin sister Jeanne Jones (Larry) and his nieces and nephews Elizabeth (John) Connor, Andrew (Dara) Jones, Sarah (Brian) Logsdon, Jennifer (Michael) Papai, Perry (Becky) Atterholt and Jim (Brenda) Atterholt as well as his longtime companion Jackie Bredeson. A memorial service will be held at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Friends of the Mound House in Fort Myers Beach.