La Grange, IL – James (Jim) W. Zethmayr, 70, died Sunday, April 30, 2017, at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, IL, surrounded by his wife and children, five days before the anniversary of his birth at the very same hospital. Jim suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, and was lucky to be living fully until recent weeks before his passing.
Jim was born May 5, 1946 and grew up in La Grange, IL, son of Gordon John Zethmayr and Ruth Charlotte (Bohnhoff) Zethmayr, sibling of David and Karen Zethmayr. His “second mother” was his aunt, Marj Bohnhoff, who taught him to love the White Sox.
In his early years, Jim was quiet and curious, averting school responsibilities and preferring to daydream about future adventures. After graduating from Lyons Township High School in 1964, Jim attended Augustana College, where he was somehow involved in mice appearing during Chapel one afternoon. In 1968 Jim enlisted in the Navy where he realized his dream of flying an F-4 Phantom under the call sign “Lean N’ Mean.” Following his Navy service, Jim continued to look for any excuse to fly, including crop dusting in California and flying over Central American mountains to a job in Nicaragua. Jim was there for the 1972 Nicaraguan earthquake. Once safely back in Chicago, he got into computers at the very start, entering data cards and learning Fortran, developing that into his career at Sargent and Lundy and EFI. Jim earned a Masters in Computer Programming degree from DePaul in 1998.
Jim met Mary Lu Gebka performing together the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Trial by Jury (wherein he got to kiss her on stage!) and decided it was time for the greatest life adventure of all. Jim and Mary Lu married in 1980, and Jeff and Carrie soon followed. Family vacations included sailing, skiing and some soggy camping, often with Captain Jim in the lead. Jeff married Sarah Bourne in 2012, adding daughter Tova Virginia in 2015. Carrie is engaged to Colin Simpson of Rockford, IL.
When he retired from PrintCafe/EFI in 2011 Jim embraced his music (guitar, banjo and violin) and eventually founded Lonesome Eagle with Greg Morton. The group made “dozens of dollars” as Jim predicted and had great fun and harmony doing it. Plank Road and the Two Way Street Coffee House were his second homes. Jim’s last performance with Lonesome Eagle was this past January. He was a quiet, kind, loyal friend to all; a gentle wit who welcomed adventure and loved his family. We carry his legacy proudly.
Diane G. Montgomery (Gilman)
La Grange, IL – James (Jim) W. Zethmayr, 70, died Sunday, April 30, 2017, at MacNeal Hospital in Berwyn, IL, surrounded by his wife and children, five days before the anniversary of his birth at the very same hospital. Jim suffered from pulmonary fibrosis, and was lucky to be living fully until recent weeks before his passing.
Jim was born May 5, 1946 and grew up in La Grange, IL, son of Gordon John Zethmayr and Ruth Charlotte (Bohnhoff) Zethmayr, sibling of David and Karen Zethmayr. His “second mother” was his aunt, Marj Bohnhoff, who taught him to love the White Sox.
In his early years, Jim was quiet and curious, averting school responsibilities and preferring to daydream about future adventures. After graduating from Lyons Township High School in 1964, Jim attended Augustana College, where he was somehow involved in mice appearing during Chapel one afternoon. In 1968 Jim enlisted in the Navy where he realized his dream of flying an F-4 Phantom under the call sign “Lean N’ Mean.” Following his Navy service, Jim continued to look for any excuse to fly, including crop dusting in California and flying over Central American mountains to a job in Nicaragua. Jim was there for the 1972 Nicaraguan earthquake. Once safely back in Chicago, he got into computers at the very start, entering data cards and learning Fortran, developing that into his career at Sargent and Lundy and EFI. Jim earned a Masters in Computer Programming degree from DePaul in 1998.
Jim met Mary Lu Gebka performing together the Gilbert and Sullivan operetta Trial by Jury (wherein he got to kiss her on stage!) and decided it was time for the greatest life adventure of all. Jim and Mary Lu married in 1980, and Jeff and Carrie soon followed. Family vacations included sailing, skiing and some soggy camping, often with Captain Jim in the lead. Jeff married Sarah Bourne in 2012, adding daughter Tova Virginia in 2015. Carrie is engaged to Colin Simpson of Rockford, IL.
When he retired from PrintCafe/EFI in 2011 Jim embraced his music (guitar, banjo and violin) and eventually founded Lonesome Eagle with Greg Morton. The group made “dozens of dollars” as Jim predicted and had great fun and harmony doing it. Plank Road and the Two Way Street Coffee House were his second homes. Jim’s last performance with Lonesome Eagle was this past January. He was a quiet, kind, loyal friend to all; a gentle wit who welcomed adventure and loved his family. We carry his legacy proudly.