James "Jim" Frank Sydlowski

James "Jim" Frank Sydlowski, of Brookfield, Ohio, passed away peacefully on Monday, March 10, 2025, at home after a period of declining health. He was 85 years old.

Born on March 1, 1940, Jim was the son of Frank H. and Caroline Grace (Vrankovich) Sydlowski. He lived his entire life in Brookfield and graduated from Brookfield High School with the class of 1958. During his years in school, Jim was a gifted student and represented Brookfield High School at the American Legion Buckeye Boys’ State in Sandusky during his junior year.

Shortly after graduation, Jim began his lifelong career as an excavating contractor. He owned and operated Sydlowski Excavating for over 60 years and, along with his son Mark, completed hundreds of residential and commercial excavation projects in the Mahoning and Shenango Valleys. Jim was known as a fair and detail-oriented contractor who took pride in the work he completed for his clients. It is hard to drive through any local community and not find several homes and businesses where Sydlowski Excavating had installed a new septic or tied a property into the public sewer system.

Jim married his wife, the former Joanne Bulik, on May 17, 1961. They were married 63 years until her passing just two short months ago. Together, Jim and Joanne would raise four boys: Mark, Jamie, Steve, and John who kept them busy over the many years with school and community activities. Jim was one of the earliest members of Brookfield’s Optimist Club and was given Life Member status by the Optimist International organization on February 9, 1973. Jim was also a long-time and devoted member of St. Bernadette’s Catholic Church in Masury, Ohio, and later St. Thomas the Apostle in Vienna, Ohio.

Jim was an avid NASCAR fan and rarely missed watching a televised race. He was also skilled at poker and spent many evenings over the years playing with family and friends. Even when Jim took the pot, those close to him enjoyed the smile on his face and twinkle in his eye. His love for games of chance extended to Mountaineer and Hollywood Casinos as well as to the daily lotto numbers. But, his enthusiasm for NASCAR and the lottery did not even come close to his true passion in life, his family. He was especially proud of his four grandchildren, and they will miss their Grandpa Jim and Poppa immensely.

Jim leaves behind his son, Jamie Sydlowski, daughter-in-law, Kristi, and granddaughter, Dana Sydlowski; son, Stephen Sydlowski, daughter-in-law, Mindy, and granddaughters, Julie (Daryn) Fitz and Megan Nicholson (Ben Kirk); his son, John Sydlowski; and daughter-in-law, Melissa Sydlowski, and grandson, Mitchell Sydlowski. Also surviving is a great-granddaughter, Alice Isovitsch and a great-grandson, Nolan Fitz. His brother, Fred (Sandy) Sydlowski, brother-in-law, Fred (Jackie) Bulik, as well as several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents; wife, Joanne; and eldest son, Mark Sydlowski.

Friends and family are invited for a time of gathering and remembrance from 3:00-6:00 PM on Friday, March 21, 2025, with the funeral to immediately follow at 6:00 PM, at Briceland Funeral Service, LLC, 379 State Route 7, SE, Brookfield, Ohio.

Memorial donations can be made to the Mark J. Sydlowski Memorial Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home.