James Mcgrath

James H. McGrath, 89, of Ottawa passed away Sunday, December 22, 2019 at LaSalle County Nursing Home.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1 pm, Thursday, December 26 at St. Columba Church, with Rev. Gary Caster officiating. Visitation will be from 11 am to 12:30 pm, prior to services, Thursday at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in St. Columba Cemetery.

Jim was born January 25, 1930, in Ottawa, Illinois at Ryburn-King Hospital to Burdette and Anita (Scherer) McGrath. He married Marianne Bresney in 1950 and then married Charlotte Williams on April 20, 1979 in Ottawa. He proudly served in the United States Army and later in the Army Reserves. He performed his duty with Company B 9th Infantry stationed in Fort Lewis, Washington. Jim worked for Ottawa Silica, flying their corporate aircraft from 1960 to 1987. After retirement, he and Charlotte built a home in Serena overlooking the Fox River. They moved back to Ottawa in May 2000.

Jim was a member of St. Columba Church, Ottawa Airmen's Club, and Aircraft & Owners Pilot Association. He was profiled in "Above it All: Profiles of American Aviators". Jim logged over 50,000 flight hours and was pilot for the first corporation-owned MU-2 aircraft in the United States. He was also honored as "Pilot of the Year" by Chicago Airtec.

He is survived by his loving wife, Charlotte; his son, Michael (Deb) McGrath of Naplate; five daughters, Marianne (Ken) Jarred of Evansville, IN; Suzanne (Tom) Harth of Ottawa; Monica McGrath (daughter-in-law) of Chicago; Melissa (Ken) Bernard of Grand Ridge; and Rhonda (Roger) Miller of Peru; currently 17 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren, with another coming in March 2020; and one brother, Ralph (Diana) McGrath of Anchorage, Alaska; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Jimmie Jr. and Kelly James; one daughter, Teresa McGrath; two sisters, Mary Colleen Bibbins and Anita Theresa Carrier; and three brothers, Patrick, Robert, and Daniel.

Pallbearers and honorary pallbearers will be his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and his niece.

Memorials may be directed to the St. Columba Church Building Restoration Fund.