DR. W. JAMES "JIM" KIRCHHOFF

1935 - 2017

Dr. W. James "Jim" Kirchhoff, a resident of Naperville since 1969, died peacefully at Tabor Hills Nursing Home on March 1, after a long illness. He was surrounded by family. Born December 29, 1935, in Indianapolis, his family later moved to St. Louis, where he graduated in 1953 from Lutheran High School. Recently inducted into the Inaugural Class of the St. Louis-area Lutheran High Schools' Hall of Honor, his plaque distinguished the word "Leadership" beneath his yearbook photo as "Prophetic." President of his high school senior class, he went on to become president of the student body at Concordia Teacher's College, River Forest (now Concordia- Chicago), where he earned a B.A. in education in 1957. While there, he studied piano and organ, and sang with various choirs including the Forester's barbershop quartet. Additionally, he led the school's basketball team to three consecutive conference championships and achieved all-conference honors twice in his years playing 1st-singles tennis. Suitably named to its Athletic Hall of Fame, Dr. Kirchhoff also was honored Concordia's Alumnus of the Year in 2003. He earned a master's degree in education at the University of Chicago in 1965, and a doctorate in education at Northern Illinois University in 1976. As a commissioned minister in The Lutheran Church Missouri-Synod (LCMS) since 1957, Dr. Kirchhoff served Lutheran grade schools and congregations in Chicago, Park Forest and Naperville in a number of capacities over the years including principal, teacher, coach, athletic director, church organist and choir director. In 1979, he became the Education Executive (superintendent) for LCMS' Northern Illinois District. In that capacity, he also served for 23 years on the Illinois Advisory Committee of Non-Public Schools (five as its chairperson); and three years on the LCMS President's Commission of Higher Education, three years as chair of the LCMS Commission on Ministerial Growth, and two years as president of the national Lutheran Education Association. For years after his retirement in 2002, he continued to champion the independent Grace Lutheran School in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood, chairing its corporate board. He played the organ, served as occasional visiting professor at Concordia, led groups on tours through Europe, enjoyed fishing trips to Canada, cheered for his cherished St. Louis Cardinals and maintained a garden at the park district, harvesting and sharing hundreds of his tomatoes, zucchinis, cucumbers and peppers every summer. Preceded in death by his parents William Julius and Agnes (nee Kettler) Kirchhoff, and sisters Marjorie (Allan) Hinrichs and Shirl (Harold) Wilkening (all of St. Louis), Dr. Kirchhoff is survived by his beloved wife of 56 years, Loretta (nee Meyer) Kirchhoff; three children, Karen (Kevin) Kutz of Seattle, John (Dawn) Kirchhoff of Sterling (IL), and Lisa (Matt) Miller of Chicago; 12 grandchildren, Emily (Isaac) Berg, Michael (Christina) Kutz and Joseph Kutz of Seattle; Nathan, Jacob, Zachary, Sarah, Mary and Rachel Kirchhoff of Sterling; and Eleri, Averie and Jamison Miller of Chicago; and one great-grandson, James Lawrence Berg. A Memorial service celebrating his life will take place at 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 18, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lisle, 1101 Kimberly Way. Visitation with the family and light refreshments will follow the service in the Cafe' at Trinity. In lieu of flowers, please direct memorials to Grace Lutheran School, 4106 W. 28th St., Chicago, IL 60623, or to a church or charity of your choice.