James A. (Jim) Adams

Obituary's Biography:

 James A. (Jim) Adams, age 89, died unexpectedly on Saturday, March 14, 2015.  He, his wife and daughters were in Madison, WI to attend the performance of their grandson, Ian, in the Broadway tour of “The Book of Mormon” when he collapsed in the theater lobby. Born July 5, 1925, Jim attended Warren High School and enlisted in the Army in 1945 serving as a medic in the Constabulary based in Southern Germany.  He graduated from the School of Agriculture at the University of Illinois in February 1951.  It was here he met his wife of 65 years, Wilma Pellizzari.  He partnered with his father on a dairy farm in Wadsworth, served as a herdsman for two years and went to Carthage College night school to get his teaching certificate.  He taught seventh grade science at Hawthorn Junior High School for 24 years.  He amused his students by strolling down the hallway loudly singing the “Illinois Loyalty” on Fridays before football games.  He was also remembered for a chant devised to help students with a definition for osmosis. He retired in 1988.  He was one of two people hired by the Lake County Farm Bureau to be the first presenters of the “Ag in the Classroom” program.  He visited fourth grades all over Lake County until hearing loss prevented him from continuing.  He loved to sing and was a long time former member of the St. Gilbert’s Choir.  Jim loved to ski, doing so until having a CVA in 2007.  He and his wife loved ballroom dancing and did so most Friday nights.  He still exercised at Gurnee Centre Club three times a week, where the camaraderie was a big factor. Gardening was another favorite he had to give up.  He is survived by his wife; his children Mark, Barbara, Carol (Tony) Liberto, and David; his five grandchildren, Christina (Brandon) Hunter, Ian (Kasey) Liberto, Kaitlin, Lauren and Andrew Adams; and three great-grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Joe and Margaret (Graham) Adams; four brothers, Ray, Don, Lloyd and Bud Adams; his sister, Margaret; and his sons-in-law Ray Lindal and Tony Liberto.  Friends of the family may visit from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm on Thursday, March 19, 2015 at Strang Funeral Chapel & Crematorium, 410 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030. Meeting at church, the funeral mass is scheduled for 10:00 am Friday, March 20, 2015 at St. Gilbert Catholic Church, 301 East Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030.  Interment will follow at Ascension Cemetery in Libertyville.  For information, please log on to www.strangfuneral.org or call 847-223-8122.