James D. Goldasich

James D. (Jim) Goldasich, 80 of McNabb died on Sunday, October 27, 2013 at his residence. Jim was born Jan. 22, 1933, in Mt. Olive, Ill., to Mike and Irene (Bouillon) Goldasich. He married Joan Packard in 1956, and to this union was born two daughters, Vanessa Kramer and Gail Cochran. He married Marjorie Grosenbach in 1974. She preceded him in death in 2011. He was a loving stepfather to Marjorie's daughter, Keirsa Novotney. In 2013 he married Sharon Acuncius. He was a graduate of Litchfield Community High School, Class of 1950, and received a Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts from Sangamon State University, Springfield. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy, serving from August 1951 to September 1971. He retired as a chief hospital corpsman. He was a veteran of the Korean War, the Vietnam War era and served in several areas of conflict around the world. He then worked for the Illinois Department of Public Health as a regional emergency medical services coordinator from 1973 until his retirement in 1998. He was instrumental in establishing several EMS Life Support Programs in Illinois and taught the EMT class for a number of years. He was a member of the Village Board of Trustees, McNabb, from April 1979 until his appointment as village president in June 1982. He served in that capacity until 1997. He was also a trustee of the McNabb Fire Protection District from 2001 until present. He served as president of the Board of the North Central Illinois Council of Governments from 1984 to 1986. He was a member and past officer of the McNabb Business and Betterment Association, which he helped start in 1983. He was a member of the NcNabb American Legion Post 1242 in which he held several offices over the years and currently serving as commander. He was also a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Flying Tigers Post 9957 in Taipei, Taiwan. He also served as the Putnam County Emergency Management Agency coordinator from February 2005 until present, and was instrumental in securing grant funding for the purchase of the new Emergency Management Agency building in Hennepin. He was a member of the Emmaus Lutheran Church in McNabb, and served as a board member in the past. In September 2009 he was awarded certification as an Illinois Professional Emergency Manager by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The community recently honored Jim by renaming the McNabb Fire Department Hall as the James Goldasich Community Center. He also received the Service Above Self Award presented by Putnam County Rotary Club earlier this year. Jim is survived by his wife, Sharon of McNabb; two daughters, Vanessa (Lee) Kramer of Meriden, Kan., and Gail (Mike) Cochran of Timewell, Ill.; one stepdaughter, Keirsa (Dan) Novotney of Appleton, Wis.; two brothers, Mike (Betty) Goldasich of Springfield, Ill., and Robert Goldasich of Carterville, Ill. Also surviving are five grandsons, one granddaughter and two great-grandsons. He was preceded in death by his parents and his wife Marjorie. Contributions may be directed to a memorial fund in Jim's name at First State Bank in McNabb. Pallbearers will be Andy Jackson, Brad Popurella, Ron Campbell, Mike Skowera, Dan Baum, Daryel Petersen, Kevin Doyle and Kevin Moore.

Service/Memorial Information

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, October 31, 2013 at Dysart - Cofoid Funeral Chapel, Granville. Rev. Ann Ziegert will officiate. Burial will be in Friends Cemetery, McNabb with full military honors. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at Dysart - Cofoid Funeral Chapel, Granville. There will be a walk through for emergency personnel and other officials at 7 p.m.

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