Among those attending the service at St Patrick’s Church of Ireland in Jordanstown, Newtownabbey were uncle Sir Ronnie Flanagan and son-in-law Iain Henderson, captain of the Ulster rugby team.
Mr Flanagan suffered from a heart condition, and it is understood that was the cause of his death on Tuesday.
He had undergone major surgery in Newcastle Upon Tyne a few years ago for this.
The Reverend Canon Nigel Baylor estimated that more than 200 people were present for the service, more than there were seats on the pews.
Canon Baylor said Jim started his career at the East Antrim Times, where he met his wife Colette.
He then went to the news desk of the Belfast Telegraph (responsible for managing the hour-by-hour affairs of the newsroom), then became deputy editor, then took over as editorial director of the Sunday Life before taking his retirement.
He then came out of retirement to edit the Ballymena Guardian.
Canon Baylor said the Flanagan clan had their origins in North Belfast and Jim attended Annadale Grammar School.
The family’s religious ties are Anglican (although Colette’s background is Catholic), and the connection to Jordanstown is that Jim’s grandchildren are involved in the church’s toddler group.
“He was very gifted academically,” Canon Baylor said.
“He had a place at Queen’s if he wanted it, but he chose journalism.
“Wherever he went he was very popular and he was a very intelligent man, with a great love for his province, his country.”
He added that the service had been a ‘celebration’ of his life and that ‘you wouldn’t have left feeling cold and saying ‘oh my God, that was just sad’”.
He was, he said, “a perfectly honest man”.
The following verses were read during the funeral, 2 Timothy, 4:6 (NIV): “For I have already been poured out like a drink offering, and the time of my going away is at hand.
“I fought the good fight, I finished the race, I kept the faith.
“Now there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will bestow on me on that day, and not only on me, but also on all who have waited for his appearing.”
Jim Flanagan is buried in Carnmoney Cemetery.
He is survived by his widow, his brother Gary, his daughter Suzanne (dentist and wife of Mr. Henderson), his son James (graduated in chemistry from Stanford University) and his grandchildren.
His two children played the violin at the end of the service.
