James Edward Kooi

James “Jim” E. Kooi, 77, of Ottawa went to his heavenly home on November 1, 2022.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, November 11th at Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home with Rev. John Patterson of Parkview Baptist Church officiating. Interment with Military Honors by the Ottawa American Legion Post 33 Honor Guard will be in Deer Park Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4:00 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, November 10th at the funeral home.

He was born September 20, 1945 in Streator, IL to Earl and Myrtle Kooi. Following his graduation from Streator High School, Jim entered the United States Air Force and was stationed in England, where he met and married the love of his life, Gillian, in 1965. Together, they started their new lives together in England, before returning to Streator, and then calling Ottawa Home.

Jim was employed by the Marbon Chemical Company, later named Borg Warner Chemicals, and then GE Plastics, retiring in 2001. In his retirement, he worked at Save-A-Lot in both Ottawa and Streator. He was a member of Parkview Baptist Church. Jim proudly prioritized his family and never took that responsibility lightly. When his children were younger, he enjoyed taking them camping and fishing. He was always quick to come up with a nickname for someone. In his free time, Jim enjoyed a good western movie, collecting various tools, and taking the dogs for a ride in his truck.

Jim is survived by his wife, Gillian; son Robert (Trish) Kooi of Peru; daughter Diana (Paul) Huffman of Maine; son-in-law Tim McLaughlin of Ottawa; his mother, Myrtle, of Streator; four siblings, Anna Marie Turner of Arizona, Judy (Glen) Clark of Wisconsin, Tim (Flo) Kooi of Peoria and Janice Head of Streator; grandchildren, Jacob Pease of Virginia, Jessica (Matt) Wrisley of Maine, Nick (Laura) McLaughlin of Tonica, Josh (James) McLaughlin of Maine; step-grandson Nick (Mark) Ross of Texas; great-grandchildren, Mikel, Penelope, Annabelle, and Jacob of Maine, and Jude of Tonica; and his two dogs, Coco and Huntley.

He was preceded in death by his father Earl, daughter Janey McLaughlin, and his beloved dogs, Cinders, Boots, Patches, and Sam.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to either Pet Project in Marseilles, IL or St. Bede Academy in Peru, IL To share a memory or sign the online guestbook, please visit www.gladfelter-roetker.com or Gladfelter-Roetker Funeral Home on Facebook.

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