James Mccarrens

James Edward McCarrens, loving husband and father of three children, passed away on Thursday, February 24, 2022, at the age of 77 in Ft. Myers, Florida due to complications of Esophageal Cancer.

Jim was born on April 19,1944 in Ottawa, IL to Joseph and Minnie (Walling) McCarrens. Jim enlisted in the US Navy on September 22, 1965. He served for 4 years and retired as an aviation electrician second class. He was employed by the IBEW Local 176 and retired in 2004. On November 20, 1965, he married Judith Lynn Vicini. They raised one son, John, and two daughters, Jenn and Jill.

Jim was the original MacGuyver, always ready with the fix to a problem that you should have thought of first. He was a practical joker and he loved a good (or bad) joke ("have I told you the one about the ketchup bottle"), and had a giving heart, whether it was a helping hand or a recipe he loved.

He wasn't one to sit still, and loved creating things to share with his family and friends. (Even in the hospital, he was handing out his toast tongs to nurses and doctors). I'm sure he's sitting at the Pearly Gates right now, talking with St Peter about how a little WD-40 will take care of that squeaky hinge.

Jim was preceded in death by his father, Joseph, his mother, Minnie, two sisters Judi Brandner and Kay Krieger, and two granddaughters, Emma and Olivia Biehl. He is survived by his wife Judi, his three children, Jennifer (Pete) Belden of Frisco TX, Jill (Robert) Biehl of Belleville, IL and John (Sarah Nanouski) McCarrens of Ottawa, IL, his brother Robert Hall (Stevensville MI), and 6 grandchildren Sam and Rocket Belden, Sophia, Julia and Max Biehl and Jake Mccarrens and many nieces and nephews.

Mass of Christian burial will be on Saturday, March 26 at 11:00 am at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with Rev. Jeff Windy officiating. Visitation will be on Saturday, from 10:00-11:00 AM at the church. Burial is at Ottawa Ave Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to St. Jude  Children's Hospital.