James Keith Van Duyn

James Keith Van Duyn, 87, of Carmel, Indiana peacefully left this earth on February 3, 2023. Jim was born to the late Earl and Florence (McClarnon) Van Duyn on March 26, 1935 near Kennard, Indiana. He was a 1953 graduate of Wilkinson High School and graduated from Purdue University in January, 1958 having been the first in his extended family to attend college. While a student at Purdue, he was a member of “Club 25” cooperative and spent most weekends traveling between West Lafayette and Muncie due to a certain someone who attended Ball State.

Jim married this certain someone, Ina Van Hoy, on June 2, 1957 and they celebrated life together for the next 65 years. They made their first home at Purdue prior to moving to a small town north of Indianapolis called Carmel when Jim was hired by Shell Oil Company upon his college graduation. He continued his career by working in the banking industry for many years with American Fletcher National Bank, First National Bank & Trust, and Hasten Bancshares, retiring as Head of Auditing in 2002.

Jim was an active member of Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis where he served on the Lake Fellow Ministry Team, the Hospitality Team, and as an after-school mentor at Westminster. Prior to joining Second Presbyterian he was an active member of Carmel Friends Church. Anyone who knew Jim, could rely on him to devote himself entirely to helping them in any way he could.

Jim was a huge fan of Carmel High School and Purdue University football and basketball, having been a season ticket holder and member of the John Purdue Club for 40+ years. Jim most loved spending time with family and friends. He will be remembered for his laughter, keen sense of humor and his love of a good joke, playing golf and Euchre, watching his beloved Boilermakers, and traveling with family and friends.

Jim & Ina nurtured a loving family including daughters, Beth (Chuck) Thoele of Dallas, TX and Amy (Tim) Scher of Carmel IN, four grandchildren: Allison Scher of Chicago, IL, Nick (Catherine) Thoele of Brooklyn, NY, Adam (Jenn) Scher of Austin, TX, Brooke (Drew) Russo of Dallas, TX, three great-granddaughters Leighton & Emery Scher of Austin, TX and Florence Thoele of Brooklyn, NY, sister Marilyn Pew of Knightstown, IN and nephews John Pew, David Pew, Todd Pew (dec.) and Troy Pew.

The family extends their heartfelt appreciation and gratitude to the loving and compassionate caregivers of Senior1 Care and Paradigm Hospice who have been blessings to Jim and his family. The family also wishes to thank the staff of Indiana Funeral Care and Second Presbyterian Church for their assistance with arrangements. Contact Second Presbyterian Church for service details. In lieu of flowers, a memorial contribution in honor of Jim’s life may be made to Second Presbyterian Church at secondchurch.org or Building Tomorrow at buildingtomorrow.org.