James M. O'Rourke

James M. O'Rourke formerly of Elgin The funeral Mass for James M. O'Rourke, 82, of Batavia, will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 2, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, Elgin. Burial will follow in Mount Hope Cemetery, Elgin. Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today, at the Laird Funeral Home, 310 S. State St. (Route 31), Elgin, and from 9:15 a.m. until the time of Mass on Tuesday, at the church. Born Aug. 24, 1926, in Elgin, the son of Manus and Meta (nee Erdmann) O'Rourke, he passed away Thursday, Aug. 28, 2008. James graduated from Elgin High School and the University of Illinois. He was a veteran who had served in the Navy during World War II. He had worked for Furnas Electric in Batavia for 37 years prior to his retirement, as vice president of sales and marketing. James was an avid golfer who also loved to fish and spend time in Hayward, Wis. Survivors include his wife, Phyllis (nee Reinert), whom he married on Oct. 10, 1953; his six children, Thomas (Mary) O'Rourke of Eugene, Ore., Dr. James (Lisa) O'Rourke of Paducah, Ky., Maureen (Mickey) Chovancek of Elgin, Kevin O'Rourke of Elgin, Michael (Sally) O'Rourke of St. Charles and Sharon (Tom) O'Leary of St. Charles; 10 grandchildren, Luke, Ben, Bryan, Alyssa, Michael, Sarah, James, Megan, Catherine and Sean; and a great-grandchild, MaKenna. He was preceded in death by his parents. Memorials may be made to the St. Mary's Catholic Church Children's Fund or a charity of one's choice. For information, 847-741-8800.