After a seven-year battle following his severe stroke suffered on January 4, 2018, Jim Dreyer, passed away peacefully surrounded by family at Saint Andrews Health Campus on Friday, January 24, 2025.
James ‘Jim’ Louis Dreyer was born to James A. and Rosemary (Amend) Dreyer on January 7, 1938 in Cincinnati, Ohio. He married his loving wife, Char S. Schuehler in 1958 and together they began a wonderful life raising seven children and eventually making Batesville their forever home.
Jim had an extended career including working for General Electric (Louisville, KY), American Standard (Louisville, KY), Batesville Casket Company (Batesville, IN), Weiser Lock (Tucson, AZ), Rausch Industries (Gastonia, NC), and Countryside Realty/Lohmiller Real Estate (Batesville, IN). His real estate career in Batesville was driven by his desire to help people find their dream home. Ethics was so important to Jim that he even coached prospective home buyers as if they were a part of his extended family.
Jim was dedicated to his family and his community. He loved coaching baseball for all seven of his children from tee-ball to hardball. Once there were grandchildren, he never missed their sporting and school events, no matter where they played or performed.
Attending Batesville City Council, School Board, and other community meetings were regular events for Jim. He had a deep commitment to making Batesville a better place to live and raise families. He always took notes at every meeting. When he was asked why he took notes he responded that he wanted to make sure the elected officials knew he was paying attention. Don’t worry though we have discarded all those notes.
Jim was instrumental in getting the memorial at Liberty Park for local fallen soldier, Chad Keith. He loved attending the annual Ride to Remember Event at Liberty Park. As CASA volunteers, Jim and Char made a great team for the CASA kids. Jim would gather all the information while Char kept the kids busy. He truly loved trying to help make kids’ lives better.
In addition, Jim was a member of St. Louis Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus Council #1461, and the Rotary Club of Batesville. Of course, we can’t leave out his regular attendance with the morning coffee group at McDonald’s to stay up to date on the happenings around town and to offer suggestions to the local leaders whether they were solicited or not.
Jim was a long-time sports fan. He loved listening to the Reds and Bengals games, plus being a University of Louisville graduate, there was no doubt who his favorite college basketball team was either. He was most proud of his football pools he was involved in with family and friends. His proudest moment came when he won a yearlong football pool from WKRC-TV with over 2500 entrants. The first-place prize was a full-size Bengals refrigerator for this great accomplishment and he was not ashamed to make sure everyone who saw it knew how he won it.
Finally, Jim was a dedicated Republican and he made sure to stay around long enough to see President Donald Trump get re-elected and put into office.
Jim is survived by his wife of 66 years, Char (Schuehler) Dreyer; seven children, Mike of Laurel, MD, Doug (Debbie) of Concord, NC, Dave (Melanie) of Batesville, IN, Brad (Susan) of Batesville, IN, Teri (Mike) Coleman of Powell, OH, Jeff (Kathy) of Noblesville, IN and Mark (Shelley) of Batesville, IN; eighteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; along with one brother, Tom (Pat) Dreyer. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Rosemary Dreyer.
The family would like to express their deep love and appreciation for all the caregivers at St. Andrews. The staff at St. Andrews truly became part of our family. We thank you.
Visitation will be Tuesday, January 28, 2025, from 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Meyers Funeral Home. A Mass of Christian burial will be at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, at the Chapel of the Sisters of St. Francis in Oldenburg, Indiana with Fr. Ken Overberg officiating. Burial to follow in the St. Louis Church Cemetery, Batesville.
In lieu of flowers, the family prefers memorials given to the Batesville Youth Baseball or Alzheimer’s Association by bringing to the services or mailing to Meyers Funeral Home, P.O. Box 202, Batesville, IN 47006.
Please feel free to leave a memory or message of comfort for Jim’s family in the online guestbook at www.meyersfuneralhomes.com.