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James Van Pelt Obituary
Jim was born on Nov. 11, 1935, in Chicago to James Sutton Van Pelt Sr. and Jean Barkdull Van Pelt. He grew up in LaPorte, IN and Evanston, IL along with his younger sister, Julie. After graduating from his beloved Evanston Township High School (`54), Jim attended the University of Michigan (BS `58; MBA `60), where he met and married his wife of 53 years, Catherine Carrero.
Jim played football at Michigan and was the Wolverines' starting quarterback for two full years and part of a third, while also playing defensive back. After his senior season, he was selected by the Washington Redskins in the 1958 NFL draft. Jim opted instead to play for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League. He was MVP of the 1958 Grey Cup Championship game after quarterbacking Winnipeg to a 35-28 victory over Hamilton.
In 1960, Jim started a three-year service commitment in the United States Air Force and was assigned to Andrews Air Force Base in Camp Springs, MD. Jim is survived by his two children, Jeffrey Van Pelt and Catherine (Michael) MacKinnon; grandchildren Alexandria Van Pelt, James Van Pelt, Maxwell MacKinnon and Catherine E. Mackinnon; sister Juliet Van Pelt Roth; nephews Ernest and James Roth; and niece Jennifer Roth.
A funeral service will be held on Wednesday July 13, at the Donnellan Funeral Home, 10045 Skokie Blvd., Skokie, Illinois 60077, at 11:00 am with a reception afterwards.
Donations welcome in his honor to the Chicago founded and based Alzheimer's Association, www.alz.org.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for James Van Pelt
1 Entry
Gilbert Clark
December 11, 2022
Such a good friend! Jim was loved by all of "The gang" group in Pelican Bay. Sorry we lost track of him when he went back to Saint Joe and just recently learned of his passing. May he rest in peace.
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Funeral services provided by:
Donnellan Family Funeral Services10045 Skokie Boulevard, Skokie, IL 60077
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