James 'Jim' Blaisdell

Jim Blaisdell, 76, passed quietly from this life to the next on September 3, 2023, at OSF HealthCare.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Marilyn (Bob) Hooker. His sister, Nancy (Ed) Durrant survives along with nieces and nephews.

Jim was a "car guy" from his early years. He loved to work on them and whatever he didnt know how to do, he figured it out. Thats the way he was with everything. There wasnt much he wouldnt tackle.

We were married in 1966, one month before he was sent to Vietnam. He operated heavy equipment helping to build roads and runways. On a very hot day there, he chose to be stationed in Alaska where we lived for almost 18 months. While stationed at Fort Richardson he served in the Fire and Rescue unit. Anchorage was where he acquired his cherished Chevy Impala 409 that people still remember today.

When he got out of the Army, he worked at Tile Specialists for over 25 years as a flooring installer. Leaving there he opened the Napa Auto Supply in Monticello. We retired in 2000 after 12 years of meeting and serving some wonderful people.

He loved cars and animals (especially dogs) almost as much as his family, Mary Jo (Oehmke) and his beautiful daughter, Amy. His two little companions will be lost without their Paw Paw, as will Amy and I.

We would like to acknowledge the kind and compassionate care he received from the nurses and doctors while in the Critical Care Unit of OSF.

We ask in remembrance of him that you make a donation to the charity of your choice.

As he requested, there will be no services.