Jim was born November 7, 1931 in Centenary, Indiana. He was preceded in death by his wife, Doris Joann Marini of 63 years. He is survived by his daughter, Jennifer Marini, son, Andrew Marini, two grandchildren Dominic Marini and Tara Singer and three great grandchildren.
Jim was a first-generation American, born in Centenary, Indiana to the late Frank Marini and Mary Fassino Marini (Italian immigrants from the northern province of Piedmonte).
He was reared by his grandmother until he was five and then joined his mother and stepfather in Detroit, Michigan. Jim was educated in Michigan through his freshman year in college and then enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952. He underwent basic training at Camp Funston, Kansas. Following basic he reported to Fort Knox and attended Officer Candidate School (OCS) and was commissioned a second lieutenant in Armor.
Jim embarked on a distinguished thirty-year career spanning global assignments alongside his beloved wife, Doris. His first assignment was Fort Hood, Texas and served in the 1st Tank Battalion, 1st Armored Division. He then was stationed in Germany and served in the 57th Tank Battalion. Jim left service for one year and when he was accepted back on active duty he attended the Motor Officers course at Fort Knox, while there he met his future wife Doris. His next duty assignment was with 1st Battalion, 35th Armor, at Fort Hood. His division was selected to go to Europe in 1957.
He married Doris while on leave. She stayed in Kentucky and finished her Nurses Training and joined him in Erlangen, Germany in 1958.
Jim was a company commander in Korea with Company B, 1/73rd Armor, later he was assigned to 194th Armor Regiment, at Fort Ord, California as the Operations Officer, and at the Pentagon in the Army Operations Center War Room. Jim commanded two battalions, the 1/69th Armor in Vietnam, and 1/68th Armor in Baumholder, Germany. He was assigned as the J3 Action Officer at S.H.A.P.E. Belgium. While assigned at Fort Knox he was the Director of the Armor Maintenance Department and culminating his military career, he was assigned as the Post Director of Logistics, before retiring in November 1982. Jim earned his B.S. from University of Omaha, and his M.S. from University of Southern California.
After retiring from the Army, Jim worked for several military civilian contractor positions until his full retirement in 2012.
He was a longtime member of the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), and the Elizabethtown Lions Club.
The funeral is on Friday, August 14, 12:00 Noon, at Brown Funeral Home, 306 College St. Elizabethtown with Pastor Sean Ryan to officiate. Burial with Military Honors will follow at 1:30 P.M. at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery Central, 2501 N Dixie Blvd, Radcliff, KY.
Visitation will be Thursday, August 13, at the funeral home from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. and again on Friday from 11:00 A.M. until the time of service.
Memorial donations may be made to Hosparus Health Central Kentucky, https://hosparushealth.org/donate/.
