James M Unland

A treasured husband, father, grandfather, friend and avid golfer, Jim Unland of Paradise Valley, Arizona and Central Illinois, died on March 19, 2010.Jim is survived by his wife Frances, his two sons John and Jim, his grandsons Logan and Tyler and his daughters-in-law, Linda and Judy. Jim was born in Delevan, Illinois on January 5, 1922.He attended Pekin High School and the University of Illinois, graduating in 1943.At the U. of I. he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega Fraternity. He married Judith Johnston of Morton, Illinois in June of 1943 and, shortly thereafter, entered the Army's officer training program. In the summer of 1944 Jim entered the European Theatre as a Company Commander of the 320th Infantry.In the process of liberating numerous cities and towns with his unit, he was wounded several times, each time returning to combat.He was awarded the Purple Heart with Cluster, the Bronze Star, the Silver Star and six Battle Stars and was honorably discharged in October 1945.He continued his military involvement after returning to Illinois, serving as a Company Commander in the 123rd Illinois National Guard through 1949.Jim often related his war experiences with friends and family, memories that have been captured in both written and audio diaries. Following World War II he went into the insurance business in Pekin, Illinois with his father, J. Logan Unland.Over the years he also owned all or portions of other local businesses including Space Age Travel, Inc. in Peoria and Carriage Corner in Pekin. He and his wife Judy were heavily involved in Central Illinois activities and politics. Jim ran for Congress in 1956 in the 18th Illinois Congressional District Republican primary and was Chair or co-Chair of several Republican presidential campaigns in the Central Illinois area. In addition to his activities in the insurance business, Jim served on numerous civic boards including serving as: member of the Illinois Board of Higher Education during the 1970's and 80's; Vice Chairman of the Bradley University Board of Trustees; a co-founder and Board Chair of the Everett McKinley Dirksen Congressional Research Center; Chairman of the Route 121 Committee; Chairman of the Central Illinois Interstate Highway Committee; President of Pekin Rotary Club; County Chairman of the USO; County Chairman of the Red Cross Blood Program; Division Chairman of two Pekin Hospital Fund Drives; County Chairman of the American Cancer Society; County Chairman of the Heart Fund; Chairman of the Pekin United Fund; President of the Central Illinois Planning Corp.; Finance Chairman, Grace Methodist Church; Chairman of the Women's Western Open Golf Tournament; Board Member of both the Pekin and Peoria Chambers of Commerce; member of the American Legion, a Son of the American Revolution, a 32nd Degree Mason and a member of the Pekin Country Club, Peoria Country Club and Paradise Valley Country Club. He also served on several corporate boards including Cilcorp, the First National Bank of Pekin, the Commercial National Bank of Peoria, the Midwest Financial Group and Bird Farm Sausage. Jim lived in Central Illinois until 1994.His wife Judy had died in 1992.He met Frances Guenther in Paradise Valley in late 1993 and they married in early 1994 at which time Jim relocated to Paradise Valley.