James R. Watson, Jr. passed away April 3, 2016 in Mundelein Illinois. Jim was born July 18, 1942 to James R. Watson and Louise (Short) Watson Sims. Jim graduated from Forsyth High School in 1962 and joined the Marine Corps. He served a total of 52 months in Vietnam. He married Helene Ten Eiken in September 1969. They traveled extensively and lived in many US locations and in Japan. After 20 years, Jim retired from the Marines while living in San Diego, CA. They then spent 2 years in Saudi Arabia working for McDonald Douglas. They returned to San Diego and later moved to Mundelein where Jim started a business installing synthetic decking and railing.
Jim never met a stranger. His dimpled smile and his ability to enjoy people were his trademarks. His laughter was contagious and he was truly a beacon of shining light to all who knew him.
Jim loved sports, from playing them in his youth to armchair quarterbacking from his recliner in later years. He could be watching 5 or 6 games at a time and tell you exactly what was happening in each. He also loved attending sporting events of his nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, whenever he could.
Jim loved children, baby animals and old folks. He could spend endless hours with children and he loved listening to the tales of his elders. Jim certainly wasn’t above spinning a few yarns of his own.
Through his years in the Marine Corps, Jim made Master Sergeant rank. Years of bossing his younger sisters around made this goal easily attainable. More importantly to Jim though, regarding his rank in the Marine Corp was the rank he earned with numerous nieces and nephews, and that was “General”. To his family and friends, the General was, and is a Man amongst Men. No matter the circumstances, when asked by anyone how he was doing, his response was, “Excellent, Excellent!” Jim’s love of life was a blessing that few of us will ever know the way he did.
Jim is survived by his wife Helene of Mundelein, IL; mother Louise Sims of Forsyth; sisters Nina Hoyer of Belt, MT and Linda Hansen of Silver Springs, NV; nieces: Natalie, Lynette, Christina, and Dominique; nephews: Bruce, Keith, Douglas, Nicolas, Jason, and Kevin and many great nieces and nephews, as well as numerous cousins whom he dearly loved.
Jim was preceded in death by his father James Sr. in 1958 and his nephew Andy Hansen in 1986.
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