A native of Rochester, Minnesota, Jim enlisted in the Army in 1966. While serving with the Americal Division’s 17th Armored Cavalry on a combat mission in Vietnam in January 1969, an enemy landmine claimed his legs above the knee and left arm above his elbow.Following his medical retirement from the military, Sursely returned to Rochester and attended college before moving to Florida where he earned his Associate of Science degree from Seminole Community College. In 1977, he began his career in real estate. At the time of his passing, he was one of that industry’s most successful professionals in his community in Florida. In 1982, he connected with the love of his life, Jeannie Thompson. They married in 1985. He was a father of five and a grandfather of 12, two of whom, Brianna and Clara, he was helping to raise at the time of his passing.
The same year he started his real estate career, Sursely began a new mission when he joined DAV (Disabled American Veterans). He was named DAV’s 1993 Disabled Veteran of the Year and the 2001 DAV Freedom Award recipient at the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass, Colorado.
In 2004, at the DAV & Auxiliary National Convention in Reno, Nevada, he was unanimously elected national commander by his fellow veterans.
A close friend of actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise, Sursely helped establish DAV’s partnership with Boulder Crest Retreats and the Gary Sinise Foundation’s RISE Program in 2015. Through this initiative and outdoor sports, Sursely and many others have mentored and touched the lives of hundreds of veterans returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sursely also served on the board of directors of the Disabled Veterans for Life Memorial Foundation in Washington, D.C. He was featured prominently in DAV public service announcements and through other outreach initiatives.
He was preceded in death by his son, Jimi, infant daughter Mary, mother Genevieve Hellen Sursely and father Edward James Sursely, a WWII Army Air Corps veteran. In addition to his wife, he is survived by sons Dax (Marcia) of Billings, Montana, and Ryan of Apopka; daughter Mary (Robert) Sharkey, an Army spouse; sisters Sandy (Dave) Gordon of Gig Harbor, Washington and Diana (Ron) Hollihan of Rochester, Minnesota; and brother Richard (Michele) Sursely of Rochester.
Ceremonies will be held in Apopka, Florida on June 10 and 11.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to DAV (Disabled American Veterans) at www.dav.org/honorjim.
Service
Visitation
Loomis Funeral Home Chapel
420 West Main street, Apopka, Florida 32712
4:00pm - 8:00pm
Service
St Francis of Assisi Catholic
834 S Orange Blossom Trail, Apopka, FL 32703
11:00am
Internment
Edgewood Greenwood Cemetery
141 Edgewood St, Apopka, FL 32703
12:30pm
Judy McElroy says
to the family of one of my favorite Veterans, you are all in my thoughts and Prayers, I will miss Jim dearly and he was a pleasure to work for and with at DAV Department of Florida. I learned a lot from him of the years. Love you to all.
Leslie Phillips says
Jeannie and family so many prayers and love sent. Jim was such a beautiful man, he had such a wonderful heart.
He was a gift to all he met but specially for his loving family. May God bless you with his loving Grace as only He can do. Much love, Leslie
Lou Ellen Bell says
Jim will certainly be missed. He had such an upbeat attitude. My prayers are with his family and friends.
Kenyon & Patricia Parlor says
You have our Deepest Sympathy, We will be keeping your family in our prayers.
Earth Has No Sorrows that Heaven cannot heal.
DAV CHAPTER 83 & DAVA UNIT 83
Carmen Fitzgibbons ( Carrick ) says
To the Family of Jim, I offer my sincere condolences! This will be a huge loss to family and friends. Jim is my cousin. I have wonderful memories of visits in Clarissa, and Battle Lake. Jim was always the life of the party. His humor, and love of life will always be remembered! Love to his siblings!!
Susan says
I am a former neighbor of Jim’s in Rochester Minnesota. I played with Jim’s sister Dede when growing up. I have many fond memories of their family. I am saddened to hear of Jim’s passing. We see commercials with Jim and his work with veterans quite often now in my new home state of Oregon.
God be with the Sursely family as they walk through this time of loss and grief. May HE wrap His loving arms around you!
Sue ( Marquardt) Smith