James Hollensteiner

James Hollensteiner, 93

James (Jim) Arthur Hollensteiner passed away peacefully at his Barrington, Illinois home on March 9, 2025. Born August 15, 1931, in Chicago, Illinois, he was one of two children of the late Dorothy and Franz Walter Hollensteiner. Jim's beloved wife of 61 years, Wanda, preceded him in death in 2020. Together, they are survived by their five children: Lisa Hollensteiner, James Hollensteiner (Diane Winnard), Jena Hollensteiner Armistead (Pend Armistead), John Hollensteiner (Melanie Dardis), and Andrew Hollensteiner. He is also survived by grandchildren Logan, Connor, Thomas, Andrew, Matthew, Walt, Will, and Anna; step-grandchildren Scott, Sarah, Emily and Maddie; two great-grandchildren Amelia and Naomi; and a nephew, William Hollensteiner.

Throughout his life, Jim maintained a quest for knowledge. He attended North Park Academy, where he served as class president, then went on to DePauw University, where he majored in Economics, was a proud member of Beta Theta Pi Fraternity, and graduated with distinction. He later earned his MBA at Northwestern University and a law degree at Chicago Kent School of Law, maintaining his Illinois Bar Association license until the age of 91.

Jim was a stellar athlete, competing in track, basketball, and football. In high school, he was known as "the speediest end in the state," and at DePauw, he was undefeated in every individual track race. He was inducted into the DePauw Athletic Hall of Fame, and in 2007, the James A. Hollensteiner Indoor Track was dedicated in his honor. During his junior year, he attended Exeter University in England, where he excelled on the rugby pitch. In 2024, the James A. Hollensteiner Rugby Pitch was named in his honor. He was also selected to the All-England Universities Athletic Track Team. In his later years, he participated in the Senior Track Olympics, at one point ranking in the top three in his age group in the country. Jim was also the founding member and instructor of the O Ben Sens Water Ski School in Rollins, MT, where his signature move was lifting one ski and one hand while skiing.

Jim was known for his strong will, unwavering determination, and tireless work ethic. From an early age, he herded sheep, set up bowling pins, picked cherries, sold war bonds, and worked in a grocery store. Most notably, he worked as a paperboy for nine years and was named Chicago "Newsboy of the Year."

Jim made his most prominent professional mark in the field of finance. For 35 years, he worked for the national trade organization for Savings and Loans. He played a key role in crafting banking legislation, creating products and services that are common today, including CDs and IRAs. He was instrumental in standardizing mortgage loan documents across all 50 states. Frequently called to Washington, D.C., he collaborated with three sitting U.S. presidents-Lyndon Johnson, Richard Nixon, and Gerald Ford-and served on President Johnson's task force for low-income housing. His expertise was widely recognized in the industry.

Jim loved Montana. His relatives were among the first pioneers in the Flathead Valley, arriving in the 1880s. He spent nearly every summer of his life in the Flathead area, except for 1933 (due to the Great Depression) and 1952 (when he attended the Helsinki Olympics). During college, he spent three summers working on trail crews in Glacier National Park, including helping to create the Dawson Pass route. After retirement, he and Wanda lived in Rollins, Montana several months of the year. He continued to explore Glacier Park, even summiting Heaven's Peak and Chief Mountain in his later years.

Jim followed in his father's footsteps by welcoming the entire family and many friends to O Ben Sens–his property in Rollins -each summer. He taught waterskiing, hosted family parties, and tended the orchard and garden well into his nineties. The family cherished summers in Rollins with Jim and they look forward to carrying on Jim's legacy by using O Ben Sens as a place to gather.

Despite his many accomplishments, family and friends were most important to Jim. His spirit inspired his children to embrace life's opportunities and challenges, and he was dedicated to ensuring his children were well-educated, successful in their pursuits, appreciative of different cultures, and committed to their communities. Jim loved attending his children's and grandchildren's sporting events, sometimes driving hours just to watch a race lasting only seconds or minutes. He had friends of all ages and walks of life, many of whom were a recipient of a poinsettia at holiday time.

Jim was also devoted to his community and country. He was incredibly proud to have served in the United States Army. As a Rotarian, he held the distinction of being the oldest member of Rotary One, the first Rotary Club in the world. As a director of the Flathead Lakers, Jim once said, "We may classify ourselves as owners of the lake, but in reality, we are merely temporary custodians of a valuable resource we should cherish and respect and, in so doing, protect and preserve it for the use and enjoyment of future generations." Notably, he attended the dedication of Kerr Dam as a seven-year-old in 1938. Jim was also a loyal supporter of the Northwest Montana History Museum, believing in the importance of preserving the history of the area.

Jim and Wanda established the James and Wanda Hollensteiner Foundation, contributing to numerous causes, including the Rollins Schoolhouse and Community Center, Logan Health Emergency Trauma Rooms, the Wanda Hollensteiner Art Galleries, and the Flathead Biological Research Station, among others.

The world is a better place because he was here. He will be deeply missed.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to one of Jim's supported charities: Northwest Montana History Museum, the Flathead Lakers, or the Wanda Hollensteiner Art Gallery at Flathead Valley Community College. Memorial services in Montana and Illinois to be announced.