James Stalker

James Stalker, 82, of Ottawa, Illinois passed away Sunday, November 2, 2014 at OSF St. Francis Hospital in Peoria. Funeral Service will be 11:00 am Friday, November 7, 2014 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Visitation will be 4:00 to 7:00 pm Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Ottawa Funeral Home. Burial will be in Freedom Lutheran Cemetery with Military Services. James was born September 2, 1932 in Ottawa, Illinois to James and Martha (Stone) Stalker. He proudly served in the United States 5th Air Force stationed at Nagoya, Japan as 1st Communication Squad from 1951 to 1954. He married Jurene Foss on February 14, 1957 at Epworth United Methodist Church; she passed away April 9, 2010. He retired after 37 years of service at US Silica. He was a member of the VFW, American Legion, and the Moose. He is survived by his daughter, Janeen (Jim) Rick; three sons, Jim (Dee) Stalker, Jeff (Gaylene) Stalker, Jon (Vickie) Stalker; his grandchildren, Justin (Brooke) Rick, Jordie Rick, Bill and Nikki Stalker, Kim (Bill) Ahlfield, TJ (Lindsay) Stalker, Atlee (Hillary) Stalker, Marisa Stalker, Paige Stalker, Sydnee Stalker, Amber (Cheston) Phillips, Amy (Mike) Silvestri, and Andrew Dunn; and his great-grandchildren, Dylan, Kealey, Jerrick, Carson, Kinley, Raelyn, Aria, Cole, MacRae, Clayton, and Kooper. He is preceded in death by his wife, Jurene; one daughter, Jerilyn Stalker; and two sisters, Shirley Girard and Alice Vignochi. Pallbearers will be his grandchildren. Honorary pallbearers will be his great-grandchildren. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family.