James Vesely

1940 - 2015

Vesely, James M.

James Michael Vesely died from natural causes on March 23, 2015 in his home in Corrales, NM. Jimmer was born on March 11, 1940 in Chicago to Joseph and Mildred Vesely.

He is survived by wife, Mary; step-daughters Kathy Banker and Karen Stearns; step-son David Banks, their spouses Rich Banker, Jim Stearns and Marty Banks; and grandchildren Ian Radix, David, Jordan, Nicholas and Shelly Banks, and Jason and Alan Stearns. He was predeceased by his parents and step-son Paul Banks.

Jim attended Morgan Park Military Academy in Chicago and became a long-standing member of the Zeta Fraternity. After his sophomore year at Illinois College, he decided to work full-time for Stone Container Corp in Chicago as a graphic designer. A year or so late, he completed his B.A. at St. Joseph's College in Albuquerque, NM.

Jim returned to Chicago where he worked for a smal advertising agency as a graphic artist. He climbed the professional ladder with anumber of jobs in the advertising business, did a lot of hunting and fishing with his close friends and got involved in sports car racing, driving an E production Alfa Romeo at various SCCA tracks in the Midwest. He took a job as advertising and sales promotion director for the Dartnell Corporation, where he met his wife, Mary. After they married, with Mary's kids pretty much grown, they began to entertain the idea of moving to NM. He found a job in advertising, which allowed Mary to graduate from UNM.

In his later years, Jim authored fact-based fiction novesl: The Corrales Valley Trilogy: Seasons of Harvest, The Awakening Land, and Shadows on the Land; Unlike Any Land You Know; Coon Creek; Lonesome Whistle Blow; Journey; Cadet Gray; and Creature. Throughout his life, Jim had many interests, including designing jewelry, making fly rods, scuba diving, writing, and painting scenes and people remembered from his many travels. Jim was a man of many talents. He had an infectious esurience for life that took him and those who loved him around the world. We'll remember his sense of humor as well as his many stories.

Funeral service will be held on April 25, 2015 at 10:00 AM at San Ysidro Church in Corrales. Inurnment will immediately follow the Mass at San Ysidro Cemetery.