James William "Jim" McCulla, Jr., July 1, 1966 - April 3, 2021. Jim developed his adventurous spirit, endless curiosity, and underlying sense of humor at a young age. He began building his own fireworks as a child after receiving his first Chemistry set and getting involved in Boy Scout rocketry. His career in construction began with building solarium room additions, evolved into rehabbing existing homes, and eventually developing custom homes. While in his forties, Jim retired from construction to devote more time to his true love: pyrotechnics. A PGI Grand Master pyrotechnic, Jim spent countless hours building his encyclopedic knowledge of firework devices, as well as designing, manufacturing, and displaying custom firework shows for everyone's enjoyment. He could create anything he imagined, a master pyrotechnician and a master builder. Jim excelled at everything he tried, and he tried everything. Throughout life, Jim's adventures included: jumping out of perfectly good airplanes, flying single-engine aircraft, aerobatic flying, snowmobiling, cliff jumping while skiing, climbing and rappelling down mountains and buildings, paintballing, sketching, SCUBA diving, paramotoring, D&D, billiards, pinochle, and most recently, woodworking. Jim lived by nobody's rules but his own, crafting a distinctive lifestyle consisting of one escapade after the next. For this reason, Jim was so many things to so many people. A great friend to everyone with whom he crossed paths, Jim was generous with his time, expertise, heart, and laughter and will be missed by us all. Jim is survived by his parents, Jim and Bonnie (nee Sumner) McCulla of Huntley, IL; his sister, Julie McCulla; nephews, Jack and Blake Barreca of Grayslake, IL; numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins, countless friends, and his beautiful kitty, Sweetie. The McCulla family is holding a visitation at Ahlgrim & Sons, 330 W. Golf Road, Schaumburg on Saturday, April 10 2021, from noon to six pm. A memorial service will be held at a later date.
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