ELKHART - James L. "Jim" Letherman, 69, musician, teacher and composer, of Elkhart, died on Friday, June 19, 2015 at Holy Cross Village in Notre Dame, Indiana. Jim was born on June 6, 1946 in Elkhart, IN to the late Dale A. "Bud" and Thelma C. (Keyser) Letherman. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Ann Letherman and a grand- niece, Grace Letherman. Jim is survived by a brother, John (Dianne) Letherman of Elkhart; two nieces, Lisa (Jason) Hemmerling of Westfield, IN and Cathie (Nick) Matuch of Seven Hills, OH; four nephews, Lt. Col (R) Jack (Natasa) Letherman of Platte City, MO, Joe (Elizabeth) Letherman of Middlebury, IN, Rob Letherman of Elkhart and Pete (Suzanne) Letherman of Granger, and fourteen grand-nieces and nephews. Jim graduated from St. Thomas Grade School in Elkhart. During his formative years he taught himself to play the piano and the Euphonium and began to write music. In the 8th grade, he conducted a work for the St. Thomas Band at its May concert in 1960. Jim was a 1964 graduate of Campion Jesuit High School, a boarding school in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, where he graduated in the top five of his class. His classmates have said that he wrote a four part symphony, "The Symphony for the United Nations" while a freshman at Campion and went on to conduct the work for the spring concert there in 1961. Jim received a four year full scholarship to John Carroll University in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated "Magna cum Laude" in 1968 with a major in classical languages (Latin & Greek). Jim became a teacher by trade, having taught Latin and Catholic Church history for many years. He taught at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cleveland, St. Thomas School in Elkhart, St. Matthew's 303-268-1535School in South Bend, Marian High School in Mishawaka and Holy Cross College. He also worked for Catholic Charities in Cleveland, OH and for Ziesel's Department Store and Lucchese's Restaurant in Elkhart. Teaching may have been his vocation but music was his passion. Jim was the organist at St. Thomas and also St. Mary's in Bristol for many years. He spent six years at Holy Cross College as the organist and choir director. He also organized and directed the Schola Cantorum of Latin Chant at St. Thomas for twenty years. Jim taught Catholic Religious Conversion (RCIA) at St. Mary's, St. John's in Goshen and St. Thomas for over twenty years. In his spare time, he gave historical and theological lectures on the Catholic Faith to a large variety of local groups. Visitation for Jim will be on Tuesday, June 23 from 3 until 7 at the Hartzler-Gutermuth-Inman Funeral Home. The Holy Rosary will be recited immediately following visitation. Friends may also call one hour prior to the Mass of Christian Burial at 1:00 on Wednesday, June 24th at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church. Monsignor Michael Heintz, a former student of Jim's, will officiate and burial will be in St. Vincent Cemetery, Elkhart. Memorial contributions in memory of Jim may be made to St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church or to the Sweet Pea Foundation. To leave the family an online condolence, please visit the Hartzler Gutermuth Inman website at www.hartzlergutermuthinman.com.