James R. Stapleton

James R. Stapleton, 68, passed away at Northwest Ohio Hospice on Jan. 1, 2010.

Jim enjoyed a successful 48-year career within the insurance industry. Starting as a national account manager with The Hartford Insurance Co. in Hartford, Conn., he quickly became adept at working large, complex corporate insurance programs. Taking the skills that he learned with The Hartford, Jim quickly excelled within his family's privately-held insurance agency in Swanton. After his father's sudden death in 1967, Jim purchased the agency from his mother and quickly developed a plan to grow the agency into what is now one of northwest Ohio's largest privately-held insurance agencies. With the economic turmoil of the 1980s hurting the independent insurance agency model, Jim was a pioneer in recognizing the need for the industry consolidation, and quickly capitalized on this change, and from 1983 to 2008 he completed 15 separate insurance agency acquisitions. Jim was an astute businessman, and one of his greatest challenges was to perpetuate the business from the second generation onto the third generation, and he took great pride in successfully accomplishing this goal with his two sons.

An active community leader, Jim saw his role within the community as a facilitator, and he enjoyed working on many public initiatives to offer his support. The son of a former Ohio State Democratic chairman, Jim learned at a very early age how to build consensus on both sides of the political isle. At his death, Jim was chairman of Stapleton Insurance & Risk Management, Inc., and president of Cottage Colony Properties, Sanibel Island, Fla. Over the years, he served as the chairman of the Fulton County Economic Development Committee, a director for the former State Home Savings Bank of Bowling Green, a member of the Swanton Exchange Club, a member of the Swanton Chamber of Commerce, a 50-year member of the Devils Lake Yacht Club, a member of the Professional Insurance Agents Association, a member of the Insurance Agents Association of Ohio, a member of the American Legion, a member of the Swanton Elks, a member of the Delta Eagles, a member of the Catholic War Vets, a member of the Michigan Lake Preservation League and a lifelong member of St. Richard's Parish in Swanton.

Jim was a very big-hearted man, and above all, loved spending time with his wife and family on weekends at his cottage on Round Lake, located in Manitou Beach, Mich. He also enjoyed spending many winter weeks in Florida on his boat "U Aint Covered." As a grandfather, Jim was thrilled to share new experiences with his granddaughters, and was always actively planning the next great excursion.

Jim is survived by his wife of 46 years, Oddlyn; his son, Byrne (Lauren) Stapleton; his daughter-in-law, Ginger Hall Stapleton; his three granddaughters, Kate, Sara, and Lindsey; his sister, Joan Stapleton McKenna of Denver, Colo.; and nine nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy E. and Viola M. (Kasper) Stapleton; his uncle, Fr. James A. Stapleton; and his son, James Patrick Stapleton.

A Mass of Resurrection will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2010, at St. Richard's Catholic Church, with Fr. Dan Zak and Rev. Brian Haller officiating.

Visitation will be held 2-8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2010, at Weigel Funeral Home in Swanton.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Richard's School, 333 Brookside Dr., Swanton, Ohio 43558 or to Hospice of Northwest Ohio, 30000 East River Rd., Perrysburg, Ohio 43551.

Online expressions of sympathy may be made at www.weigelfuneralhomes.com.