James Robert "Jim" Kallembach Jr.

1951 - 2025

James "Jim" Robert Kallembach, Jr.
Born: March 3, 1951
Died: October 18, 2025
James "Jim" Robert Kallembach, Jr. passed away at home, surrounded by family, on October 18, 2025, after a courageous battle with cancer.
Jim was born to James (Bob) Robert Kallembach, Sr. and JoAnne (Johnson) Kallembach in Champaign, Illinois, on March 3, 1951, and grew up on a farm on the Mansfield Blacktop. He attended White Heath grade school and Monticello High School, class of 1969, where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He performed lead roles in school plays including The Music Man. Jim went on to Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois where he studied Business Administration, was a member of Theta Chi Fraternity, and was a career leader on the IWU football team, where he held records for interceptions. He also attended summer classes at Parkland College where he met his wife, Sheri, the love of his life. Jim and Sheri were married August 14, 1971, at the Monticello Methodist Church. After graduation he worked for State Farm and then went on to over 30 years' experience in manufacturing beginning with General Cable in Monticello, Illinois. They welcomed their first child, James (Jimmy) Robert Kallembach III on December 19, 1976. Their second child, Jennifer Kallembach was born June 22, 1979. The family lived on the farm where his grandfather Louis Kallembach worked and then moved to the farm in Mansfield where Jim grew up. He took over the farm with his mother after his father had passed away in 1977.
Family was his greatest love. He was a dedicated son, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle. He enjoyed fishing and camping with his son and grandson, and horseback riding with his daughter, taking her to every horse show. He was a passionate sports fan, especially football and basketball, and an avid hunter, involved with Ducks Unlimited, an environmental non-profit.
Jim was very active in the Monticello, Illinois community, where he was a faithful member of the Monticello United Methodist Church and high school Sunday School teacher. He sat on the township board, was a Monticello High School board member, a peewee football coach, and a leader in Jimmy's Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts troops. In the DeKalb, Illinois community, he and Sheri were faithful members of the First United Methodist Church of DeKalb, where he served on the Board of Trustees and together they were dedicated volunteers of the Stephen Ministry and Summer Lunch in the Park, serving meals to children and families during the summer months. After retirement he and Sheri loved to travel, with frequent vacations to Florida and Branson, Missouri with their children and grandson. Jim was a faithful man as reflected by his actions and deeds. He was known to all as a gentle man, and the nicest guy they'd ever met.
Jim was preceded in death by his father Bob, mother, JoAnne, and stepfather Charlie Body. He is survived by his wife, Sheri, son Jimmy and daughter-in-law Beth, daughter Jennifer, grandson Otto and his mother Luiza, sisters Melinda (and Mark) McHale, JoEllen (and Tim) Bohannon, sister-in-law Carol (and John) Cobble, and several nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025 at 5:00pm, with a fellowship hour to follow, at the First United Methodist Church, 2501 N Annie Glidden Road, in DeKalb, Illinois.
An open graveside service will be held at Goose Creek Township Cemetery on Saturday, October 25, 2025 at 11:00am in DeLand, Illinois, followed by a luncheon at the Monarch Events Center, 212 S Independence Street, in Monticello, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations may be made in Jim's name to the First United Methodist Church in DeKalb, Illinois for church mission ministries, or to the Monticello Athletic Boosters, 1 Sage Drive, Monticello, Illinois, toward future scholarships in Jim's name.
Arrangements were completed by the Butala Funeral Home, Sycamore, IL. To sign the online guest book or share a special memory- go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com