Funeral homes often submit obituaries as a service to the families they are assisting. However, we will be happy to accept obituaries from family members pending proper verification of the death.
James L. Beam, 87, of Elgin, Illinois. James died on October 6, 2024, at Algonquin, Illinois. He was born on Dec. 6, 1936, to Joseph William Beam and Mildred Iona Beam (Harper) in Hood River, Oregon. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judith Eileen Beam (Eastman), whom he married on June 13, 1959. He is survived by children Jeffrey Lawrence (Penny) Beam, Elizabeth Anne Rabe, Stuart Carlton (Amy) Beam, Laura Jean (Todd) Mullen, and Matthew James Beam.
James attended Dee Grade School, Wy'east High School, and Oregon State University, from which he graduated with a degree in zoology in 1959 with a full-ride NROTC scholarship. Also in 1959, he was commissioned as an Ensign in the Navy. He served on the USS Taylor, DDE 468 until volunteering for Navy flight training in 1961. After training, he was assigned to VP-23 in Brunswick Maine flying the SP-2Hs, a long-range patrol and anti-submarine aircraft. He checked out as aircraft commander in minimum time.
James accepted orders to instruct in anti-submarine warfare at Norfolk Naval Station in Virginia, and then was sent to be a primary flight instructor at NAS Saufley Field, Florida. He resigned from the Navy in January 1969 and went to work for Trans World Airlines as a flight engineer on the Convair 880. After training in Kansas City, he was assigned to the Chicago O'Hare domicile. During several furloughs, he worked as a truck driver, an insurance salesman, a schoolteacher, and a manager of operations and sales in the moving and storage industry. When finally rehired by TWA, he progressed through the seats until ordained as a captain in 1993. After being forced out of the seat at age 60, he flew two more years as a flight engineer and trainer of new hires. He retired from the airlines in 1998. After retirement, he worked as a printer, but without much dedication, played golf, and served at several positions in the Elgin Lions Club.
He was proud of every one of his children. They certainly didn't have the benefit of having a father of privilege, and they have all achieved substantial success in their lives due to their own efforts. He has eight grandchildren, Kevin (Rachel) Real, Hanna (Winston Bull) Real, Jake (Natalie Wakefield) Mullen, Kristen (Scott) Zwolski, Benjamin (Katie) Rabe, Ryan (Brian) Ortiz, Katy Beam, and Kellie Beam. He has two great grandchildren, James Joseph Ortiz and Liliana Judith Zwolski. He was also preceded in death by his dog, Jasper who was his constant companion for so many years.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 17 at the Laird Funeral Home, Elgin, from 4-8 p.m., with a service of remembrance to begin at 6:30 p.m. and the United States Navel Honor Guard concluding the service with the United States Navel Honors presentation. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Elgin Lions Club Foundation in his name. Laird Funeral Home, Elgin is in care of arrangements.
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Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.