D. James Jumer

D. James Jumer, 82, of Peoria, died at 8:35 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2008 at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. Born June 10, 1926 in Caledonia, Minn., to Dr. John A. and Sylvia O'Brien Jumer. He married Phyllis J. Larsen on Feb. 7, 1953 in Two Harbors, Minn., she survives. Also surviving are three sons, James (Margie), Al and Karl Jumer all of Peoria; two daughters, Sylvia (Ron) Wicks of Peoria and Anna J. Jumer of Moline, IL; and two grandchildren, Natalie and Jacob Wicks. He was preceded in death by his parents; one brother and one sister. He sailed on ore boats in Lake Superior and later to Europe with the Merchant Marines. He operated a restaurant on the Spanish Riviera. His early experience with food service spanned the upper Midwest and Washington, DC area when he opened the first chain of Chicken Delight restaurants. He moved to Peoria in 1959 and purchased Kramer's Restaurant from E.L. Kramer in 1960. In December of 1965, he announced the restaurant would be remodeled and expanded to double its size and a hotel would be built on the site. The motif would be authentic Bavarian and the drive-in service was dropped. He retained the Kramer's name for his restaurant until 1970 when his own name became associated with the restaurant and adjoining Castle Lodge. In 1973, Jumer Hotels was ready to expand with the opening of a Castle Lodge in Bettendorf, Iowa, the complete renovation of the historic Urbana-Lincoln Hotel in Urbana, Illinois in 1978, the acquisition of the first Continental Inn in Galesburg, Illinois in 1982, and the French styled Chateau in Bloomington-Normal, Illinois in 1988. He received numerous awards for food, service, d¨cor and accommodations. Jumer's Castle Lodge in Peoria and Jumer's Chateau in Bloomington were the only two hotels outside the Chicago area to receive the Four Diamond AAA award. He spearheaded investment in the Peoria riverfront development when he brought his paddle wheeler, The Spirit of Peoria, to the foot of Main Street in 1988, pushed for lighting on the Murray-Baker Bridge in 1991 and was an early participant in Oktoberfest celebrations on the riverfront. Jumer's Casino Rock Island opened in downtown Rock Island, Illinois on the mighty Mississippi River in 1992. He along with his children is currently building a new casino and hotel on an inland site in Rock Island, Illinois scheduled to open Dec. 1, 2008. He was a member of St. Mark's Catholic Church. PRIVATE MASS:will be on Friday, Sept. 12, 2008 in St. Mark's Church with Rev. Charles Klamut officiating. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in West Peoria. Wright & Salmon Mortuary is in charge of arrangements. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mark's Catholic Church or the Alzheimer's Association Central Illinois Chapter.Tributes and condolences may be submitted to www.wrightandsalmon.com


This obituary was originally published in the Duluth News Tribune.