James R. Wainwright

1935 - 2021

James (Jim) R. Wainwright, 86, of Springfield, died on June 21, 2021, in Springfield, Illinois.

James was born on April 19, 1935, in Springfield, the son of Marshall Lee and Marie Alta (Garretson) Wainwright. A graduate of Lanphier High School, he then graduated from The Chicago Academy of Fine Arts. He married Sandra Joyce Wideman in 1955 after graduating from the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts and moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he eventually joined Shakespeare Fishing Tackle Co. as assistant advertising manager. In 1961, he moved to South Bend, Indiana, where he eventually started his own art and design company and took a partner, Ron Raber. Wainwright/Raber Advertising Art became well known in the Midwest with clients like Bayer and Kohler and won many national awards for annual reports and corporate identity programs.

Jim's real love was sports illustration and the work he did for the University of Notre Dame. He did over 50 paintings for Notre Dame and many of the Notre Dame football programs. Players and coaches would often see him on the field taking photos for the next painting. Wainwright/Raber operated for nearly 35 years until Jim's wife, Sandy, passed away from complications due to multiple sclerosis. After that, Jim sold his business and moved to St. Louis, married his high school sweetheart, Barbara (Bobbie) Monahan, and started his career over again as a designer for Budweiser for their collectable beer steins. He created over 160 beer steins for Budweiser and really enjoyed traveling across the United States and signing steins for collectors. When that division was sold, he reinvented himself again and became a shoe designer at Wolff Shoe Co. in St. Louis.

Jim and Bobbie eventually moved from St. Louis and happily resided in Carlinville, Illinois, for many years. Those who knew Jim well know how much he loved making people laugh, loved fishing, tennis, football, especially Notre Dame, cigars, motorcycles, and his children and grandchildren. He loved holding court and just being silly. In his later years, he would lose many hands of cards to his beloved wife, Bobbie, in some serious family card games.

He was preceded in death by his parents; first wife, Sandra Joyce Wideman; brothers, Jack Wainwright and Marshall Wainwright II; and sisters, Dolores Harbour and Marline Herndon.

James is survived by his wife, Bobbie; son, James R. (Jane) Wainwright II of Greenwood, Indiana; daughters, Julia Wainwright of Belvedere, California, Lisa (Kevin) Dean of Gilroy, California, and Sherry Kas (Vince) of Grand Rapids, Michigan; eight grandchildren; sister, Mary Ellen Sattler; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Cremation will be provided by Butler Cremation Tribute Center.

The family will host a Celebration of Life at a later date in South Bend.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Diabetes Foundation Inc., 411 Hackensack Ave., Hackensack, NJ 07601.

The family is being served by Butler Funeral Home-Springfield, 900 S. Sixth St., Springfield, Illinois.

Please visit butlerfuneralhomes.com to offer your condolences.