James H. Gladden

James H. Gladden (Jim), age 73, of Floyds Knobs, Indiana passed away peacefully on June 17, 2026 with his family by his side. Born in Scottsburg, Indiana, to the late Clyde and Juanita Gladden, Jim was a proud Hoosier whose roots remained firmly planted in Southern Indiana throughout his life. He graduated from Pekin Eastern High School before attending Indiana University-Bloomington, where he earned a degree from the Kelley School of Business. In 1985, he married Emily Witkemper Gladden. Together they shared a wonderful life filled with adventure, friendship, and travel, exploring destinations around the world and creating cherished memories along the way. A successful entrepreneur, Jim was the owner of Genesis Plastics in Scottsburg and Genesis Solutions in Jeffersonville. Through his leadership and vision, he built thriving businesses and provided opportunities for countless employees until his retirement in 2018. Though he achieved much professionally, his greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his beloved wife, Emily Gladden; his daughter, Heather Lewis (Stephen); and his two grandsons, Cooper and Xavier Lewis. Nothing brought him greater happiness than being “Poppy” and attending his grandsons’ sporting events. An avid outdoorsman, Jim had a lifelong passion for hunting and fishing. He hunted across North America and treasured his African safaris in Zimbabwe and South Africa. He especially enjoyed dove and quail hunting and clay shooting with his many hunting friends. His love of wildlife conservation and the outdoors led him to become a lifetime member of Safari Club International. He was also passionate about horse racing and thoroughbred ownership and was a founding member of the Louisville Thoroughbred Society. Following retirement, he pursued another interest in the bourbon industry, becoming an investor in Jackson Purchase Distillery in Hickman, Kentucky. A proud Eagle Scout, Jim carried the values of scouting throughout his life. He was active in numerous civic and community organizations and attended Southeast Christian Church in Jeffersonville. He was a devoted fan of the Indiana Hoosiers men’s basketball and football teams and rarely missed an opportunity to cheer on his beloved Hoosiers. He was also a longtime fan and season ticket holder of the Indianapolis Colts and enjoyed sharing games and memories with his family. He will be remembered for his entrepreneurial spirit, generosity, love of adventure, unwavering loyalty to family and friends, and the pride he took in every role he held—as husband, father, grandfather, businessman, sportsman, and friend.

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