James Allen Berner

James Allen Berner passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

Jim was born on June 13, 1949, in Clark County, Ohio, to Forest and Lulu Berner. He was the first member of his family to be born in a hospital rather than on the family farm on Rebert Pike. Jim valued family from a very young age. As the sixth of nine children, one of his jobs was to help care for his younger siblings and keep them from drowning on family vacations. He also helped his older siblings in the family garden and loved blowing up stumps with dynamite.

This was also when his love of collecting began. His Uncle Ferman owned an auction house in Springfield, and Jim spent time there during auctions. He began collecting interesting items such as license plates, old bottles, and anything else that caught his eye. When he started kindergarten, his mother showed him the route to school on the first day and told him he would be making the trip on his own after that. He attended Fulton Elementary School in Springfield, and that walk was ten blocks!

During his ninth-grade year, his family moved to Sinclair Avenue, known as "the lane," just outside Donnelsville, Ohio. This is around the time and place where he met the love of his life, Alice. She often said it was love at first sight. Alice was 13, and Jim was a mere 16. Alice lived in Wyandot, Michigan, and Jim would frequently hitchhike all the way there to see her. Alice spent summers with her aunt so she could be closer to Jim. It was a true love story. They were even struck by lightning together.

Jim was nicknamed "Satch" by his hometown friend, Ronnie Burns, when he moved to Donnelsville. Many of his childhood friends continued to call him by that nickname throughout his life.

Jim attended Tecumseh High School, where he played football and ran track. After breaking his ankle, he joined a band called The Ides of March, playing rhythm. His main role, however, was dancing, which comes as no surprise to anyone who knew him.

Jim and Alice were married on June 27, 1970, at First Christian Church in Springfield. In their early years of marriage, they lived on Light Street in Springfield in an upstairs apartment above what is now Garrett Jewelers. Jim worked many jobs to provide for them until he was hired full-time at Navistar in November 1970. This allowed them to purchase land and a small house outside Donnelsville, where they began raising their family.

They quickly welcomed four sons: Jimmy, Jason, Jacob, and Josh. Jim served as president of the Donnelsville Fireman's Association, and his boys loved it so much that they named the family dog Fire Truck. He was also president of the New Carlisle Cubs football association, served as equipment manager, and coached. He coached a Donnelsville baseball team as well and led them to a championship.

During this time, he was also an EMT and firefighter. In 1979, he was laid off and decided to attend auction school. After receiving his auctioneer's license, he worked nightly, selling at auctions all over Ohio. He was determined to provide for his family. He also earned his real estate license and worked for Gandee Realty.

In 1983, Jim and Alice purchased a building on the corner of Main Street and Hampton Road in Donnelsville and opened a used furniture store. Over time, it evolved into Berner Auction Company. Jim had a passion for buying and selling antiques. He spent most Saturday mornings scouting garage sales and often extended family vacations by stopping along the way to hunt for treasures.

The auction business was truly a family affair. His sons worked every sale, and eventually their wives helped as well. Wednesday night auctions became a highlight of the community.

Jim laid the groundwork for his sons to prosper, understanding that while he might not fully benefit from every investment he made, his children would. His uncle, Ferman Berner, remained an important role model throughout his life. Jim especially enjoyed bid calling and was considered one of the best around. He had the opportunity to auction side-by-side with longtime family friend Ronnie Mumma. Along the way, he built friendships and connections throughout the United States that remain important today, including his friendship with Don Harris of Alabama.

Daily drives were one of Jim's favorite pastimes. He would drive by his children's and grandchildren's homes just to see if they were home. He also enjoyed stopping by Dick and Brenda Deering's farm to chat on the porch.

His family remained the highlight and focus of his life. His sons married, and grandchildren soon followed in abundance—14 grandchildren in 14 years. Jim and Alice attended countless sporting events, birthdays, musicals, graduations, banquets, and other important milestones. He was an active and supportive Papaw. His grandchildren were his pride and joy.

Later in life, Jim retired from Navistar and truly enjoyed spending time with his family. As the grandchildren grew older, he especially loved family weddings. He could always be found dancing to "We Are Family" and "Old Time Rock and Roll" at every celebration.

During a recent trip to the lake with his entire family, he sat back and watched his great-grandchildren playing together. He told Alice he was "just so happy."

Jim was a man of integrity, kindness, generosity, and faithfulness. He loved the Lord and attended not one, but two churches on Sunday mornings: Restoration Park Church and Grace Fellowship Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Forest and Lulu Berner; his siblings, Richard Berner and Clara Griffin; and his brother, Robert Berner, who passed away as an infant.

He is survived by his wife, Alice Berner; his sons, James (Shannon) Berner, Jason (Kelley) Berner, Jacob (Silke) Berner, and Josh (Emily) Berner; his grandchildren, Gabriel (Megan) Berner, Layne Berner, Allison Berner, Noah (Heiela) Berner, Kinley (Stewart) Parrott, Macy Berner, Gatlyn (Bretton) Bethel, Kaylin (Ethan) Farmer, Braden Berner, Jackson Berner, Lucas (Chloe) Berner, Deacon Berner, Scout Berner, and Devin Berner; his great-grandchildren, Brantley and Briar Berner, Jagger Hasting, Micah Wooten, Hazel Parrott, Kallum Bethel, Rosemary and Willem Berner, and Sutton Farmer; his siblings, Patricia, George, Dave, Henry, and Daniel Berner; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins whom he loved very much.

In lieu of flowers, we request donations be made to Impact Bethel.

https://www.supportimpactbethel.org/

Family and friends will be received from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at Restoration Park Church. Services celebrating Jim’s life will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, June 17, 2026, with Jacob Berner officiating. A burial will take place immediately after the funeral services at Glen Haven Memorial Garden. Online condolences and memories may be shared at trostelchapman.com.