James (Jim) Merritt Jansen, Jr. age 63 of Knoxville, TN went home to be with the Lord early Thursday morning, January 22, 2009 at Parkwest Medical Center.

Jim was the Clerk of Session and a founding member of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church.  He was a loving husband, father and granddaddy.  Jim enjoyed his volunteer service at Christian Academy of Knoxville.  He worked at Oak Ridge National Lab for more than 40 years. His greatest passion was growing the Kingdom of God through his family, friends and support of world missions.

Jim’s son, Thomas Eric Jansen and mother, Frances Walker Jansen preceded him in death. 
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Jimmy Chambers Jansen; daughter and son-in-law, Becky and Jeff Smits; grandchildren, Megan and Justin Smits; father, James M. Jansen Sr. of Evansville, IN; sister, Judy K. Jansen of Storrs, CT; several nieces, nephews and a wonderful church family. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, January 24, 2009 at Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church with Rev. Jim Barnes and Rev. Jim Dallery officiating.  The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Family and friends will gather at 2 p.m. Sunday at Lakeview Cemetery for Graveside Services and interment.  Members of the Session of Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church will serve as honorary pallbearers.  In lieu in flowers, memorials may be made to Christ Covenant Presbyterian Church Building Fund, 12915 Kingston Pike, Farragut, TN  37934.
 
Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Jansen family. 

---- Tributes ----

January 22, 2009
You will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.  Robbi Humphrey (KINGSTON, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Dear Jimmy and Family, I was deeply saddened today at Jim's passing. I have fond thoughts of Jim as he worked so hard to help us at CAK. He was a fine Christian man, husband and father/grandfather. I believe God has many crowns for him in his new heavenly home. I will be praying for you and your family and asking our Father to guide, strengthen and comfort you during this great loss at this time in your lives. In Christ, Barb & David Sheley (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Jimmy--I grieve for you in your loss; I know how much you and Jim always did together and know that you will miss him. I have such fond memories of running into Jim when you and he would be working so hard at CAK during breaks and on weekends--he always had a story to tell or an idea to share. May the Lord comfort you with a Father's loving embrace, now and in the days ahead. In Him, Sara Baker (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Laura Berube (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
My thoughts and prayers go out to you and your loved ones. I pray for God's peace that passes all understanding& that your heart will feel His comfort. God Bless! Barbara Houser (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Jim will be loved and missed by all who knew him. Jimmy, I am grieving for you and your sudden loss. You make such a wonderful couple - Our Lord and Saviour put Jim and Jimmy together and gave you such a great life together, filled with so many wonderful memories. Luann Stewart

January 22, 2009
Jimmy and family, I was saddened to learn of Jim's death. Though having known him for only a short time, I am in awe of his tremendous capacity to give. In reading Jim's obituary, it is clear that he gave generously of his love, time and talents not only to his family, but also to his church, his work colleagues and his family and friends at CAK. I deeply respect his contribution to the work of God. Please accept my most sincere condolences and prayers at this bittersweet time. Peace, Pat Carroll (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Jimmy and Family, I will be praying for you during this time of loss. Jim will be missed at CAK. He was a great help and supporter of our school. We thank God for his life and Christian testimony. Rebecca Roberts (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
I had the good fortune to meet, know and work with Jim for three decades at work. I have enjoyed reading the family and friends tributes because that was a part of his life I knew only by guessing. He certainly and profoundly matched the personal life qualities noted here by family! Some of us would kid him at times about his firm convictions but at the end of the day he always was found to be wise and prudent. Even after my 15 years of retirement I feel a sense of personal loss as well. God bless all of his family and friends. Don Miller (Oak Ridge, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Jim was hard-working, honest, sincere and a very fun guy to be around. Our deepest sympathy goes out to his family. He will be greatly missed. Best regards, Tommy & April Thomas (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
I had the distinct pleasure of working with and for Jim during my years at ORNL. One particuler experience was working essentially "around the clock" with him to develop software for an important deadline. I admired his determination, knowledge, leadership, and sense of humor. He was very knowledgeable and always fair in his dealings with people. In Jim's case, what you saw is what you got, a very sincere and dedicated person. I feel vert fortunate to have known and to have worked with Jim. Sincerely, Jim & Dona McEvers (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Dear Jimmy and family I am so saddened by the sudden loss of Jim today and wish you peace and comfort at this time. He was a kind and brilliant man with a servant's heart. I told my computer class today that if it were not for Jim we would not have the great technology we were privileged to use. He will be greatly missed by many. Dixie Fentress (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. Debbie Taylor (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
To the family of Jim Jansen, I am very saddened at your loss of Jim. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to share a brief moment of life with Jim during our undergraduate years at the University of Evansville as young engineering students. He was a great fellow student as well as a caring young man. God bless Jim and all of his loved ones. Charlie (Charles E. Higdon, Woodbine, Maryland)

January 22, 2009
Dear Jansen Family, I only knew Jim for maybe 5 years or so, but I always found my interactions with him to be friendly and insightful. Reading his obituary, I'm not surprised at all by the way he gave of himself outside of work. I pray that your family will truly experience the peace that only God gives during this time. Dez Davis (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
My sincerest sympathy in the loss of your beloved son, husband, father, grandfather and brother. He was for many years my best friend. I'll always remember the fun times we had singing hymns at his parents' house, working together at Kroger's, and fellow shipping together. He was a true friend. "Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints." Psalm 116:15 God carefully chooses the time when they will be called into his presence. May God's grace and peace surround you now and always. Philippins 4:7 Philemon 1:3. John Hensley (Evansville, IN)

January 22, 2009
Judy Potter (Clinton, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Jim - You were a great "hall buddy" talking about things that mattered to both of us. I appreciated the way you stood up for your principles at work and obviously in the community. I'm going to miss you here on earth but look forward to seeing you in the presence of God Almighty. We will have new things to talk about and I'm looking forward to that. Kerry Hake (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
For the short time I have known Jim, I will always remember his servant's heart. He never did anything for himself...it was always for the glory of the Lord. I am deeply saddened for your loss, Jimmy and family, and Allison and I are continually praying for all of you. Adam Hotchkiss

January 22, 2009
Jimmie, David and I are so saddened tonight to hear this news. We have fond memories of CAK computer wiring projects, you three talking "shop" while I listened in mostly clueless fashion!, and sitting together and catching up at the occasional football game. I always loved how you and Jim were together so often and really seemed to enjoy each other's company. I know you will miss him. You and your family are definitely in our thoughts and prayers. We love you. -Melody, for both of us. (David and Melody Durham, Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
Jimmy, Jim was a wonderful, intelligent man, whose presence I know will be missed by so many. I pray for God's comfort to you and to your family now and in the years ahead. I was honored to work next to him, seeing how much he poured into his work at CAK, selflessly and gladly. My prayers go out to you. Dave Eveland (Knoxville, Tennessee)

January 22, 2009
My sincere condolences to Jim's Family. Jim was a good friend for his classmates at Bosse High School in Evansville. I remember Jim as being happy, friendly and smart. A good friend. Dan Hewins

January 22, 2009
I'm sorry to hear of Jim's death. I only recently heard of his illness. While I worked in the division office I enjoyed talking with Jim. My prayers are with you as you go through this time of loss. Brenda Bush (Powell, TN)

January 23, 2009
Praise be to God that we do not grieve as those who do not have any hope. I can see now the Bible verses placed on the wall in Jim's room at the hospital. Jim has now moved from the church militant to the church victorious. Barbara & John Sadler (Knoxville, TN)

January 23, 2009
We are saddened to learn of Jim's death. He was a special member of God's elect. He gave of himself unselfishly. May our Lord comfort you as only the "God of all comfort" can. Kerry and Dianne Maulden (Knoxville, TN)

January 23, 2009
I was so sorry to hear of your loss. The thoughts of many are with you at this time of sorrow. Sharon Burris (Oliver Springs, TN)

January 23, 2009
I remember Jim as a loving giving person who served Christ and His church and loved and served his family. May our heavenly Father's love and peace comfort you in this loss. Roy Zinn (Knoxville, TN)

January 23, 2009
My heart is so sad at the loss of such a great man. I will never forget his heartwarming smile. I have shared many a laugh with him when I worked in his division at ORNL. My prayers are with you at this time, but we all must remember that he is no longer in pain and the angels are rejoicing at his presence. God bless you all. You were so lucky to be such an important part of his life and my life is blessed because I knew him. Pam Rohde (Powell, TN)

January 24, 2009
Jimmy and family, my deepest sympathies on the loss of Jim, your beloved husband, father, grandfather and son. Melinda Aafedt Simmons (Knoxville, TN)

January 24, 2009
Dear Jimmy, Jim, Sr., and Judy, My deepest sympathy to all of you as you go through these next few days. Tonight my heart aches at the loss of a childhood friend. As neighbors for years, is difficult to put into words, all these memories come flooding back. We had wonderful times singing and teasing each other with phone calls, and our "club". I just found a note about the rug the club bought the other day. Every time I would see Jim in Evansville, after we both had grown up and moved away, would still tease him about his possession of the rug we bought while we were in grade school. We would laugh hard at the very thought of the missing rug! Those were great times, and I treasure them. Blessings to all of you and may God hold you in the palm of his hand. Love, Susan Dwyer-Nicholson (Indianapolis, IN)

January 24, 2009
Another Stanley Hall and Bosse classmate has fallen. I remember Jimmy with his red hair and always smiling and laughing. Carolyn (Clark) Barrett (Evansville, IN)

January 24, 2009
You're right, Carolyn, who can forget his red hair and smiling face. As a boy at school he could make people laugh and buoy up our spirits. (And reading of all the Jims, James and Jimmys in the obituary brought a smile to my face.) He will be missed by many friends and family, I'm sure. Sounds like he led a purposeful and loving life. I'm sorry he's gone at such a young age. Marcia Bennett (Toronto, Canada)