James M. Falduto Sr.

James "Jim" M. Falduto, Sr., 85, of Gobles, Michigan passed away peacefully at home with his wife, Kay Newton, beside him on November 1, 2024.
James was born in Melrose Park, IL on May 26, 1939 to Nicholas and Grace Falduto. He was the eldest of 4 children. His beloved sister and brother, Diane and Nicholas, Jr. (Pam) have predeceased him. He is survived by his younger sister Angela (Walter) of Taunton, Massachusetts. He graduated from Elmwood Park High School, where he fondly remembers his class's Graduation song as "You'll Never Walk Alone". He started college at Marquette University, but after years of night school graduated from Loyola University in May, 1966 coinciding with the birth of his fourth child on his birthday!
He married Mary Ann(nee Leavy) in June,1960, and they had 5 children together, Jane (Daryl) Liquin of Palatine, IL, James, Jr. (Karen) of Palatine, IL, David of Hobart, IN, John (Margaret) of Westchester, IL and Matthew (Sharon) of Coralville, IA. He was a beloved Grandfather to Christopher (Reagan), Emily, Allison, James III, Rachel, Sarafina, Samantha, David, Mia and Piper.
Jim's career was spent in the hardware industry, first with ACCO, and then the remainder of his career at Wilton Corporation, ending his time there as Executive Vice President. One of his proudest professional accomplishments was in 1998 when he was inducted into American Supply and Machinery Manufacturers' Association (ASMMA) as its President. The Association flew his entire family to San Francisco in 1999 for his outgoing ceremony and party afterward! It is remembered as a wonderful family trip.
A passionate golfer, Jim spent his entire life working on his swing. He played many courses throughout the US. Some of his favorites were Pebble Beach, Kiawah Island, Cog Hill, Medinah, and Butler National. Although his favorite course to play was Medinah, his treasured memories come from playing at the River Forest Country Club Course, especially on Father's Day when some of his children would join him. He followed all of his grandchildren's events, and came to as many games, concerts, plays or musicals that he could. Grandpa was loved so much and his presence will be missed.
In 2019, he married Kay Newton of Gobles, Michigan, and moved there. Jim and Kay married in Florida, and spent some of their 5 years together traveling. Their favorite trips include their time together in Jerusalem, their visit to Alaska, and a riverboat cruise through Germany. Their best time together though was spent at the Lake House in Gobles where they put in a gorgeous garden, drove the pontoon boat around the lake, and enjoyed bird watching on the deck.
Visitation Monday, November 11 from 3-8pm at Smith-Corcoran Funeral Home, 185 E. Northwest Highway, Palatine IL 60067. Funeral Tuesday, November 12th at 9:30am from the funeral home to St. Thomas of Villanova Catholic Church, 1201 E Anderson Dr, Palatine, IL 60074, for a funeral mass at 10am. Friends and family will meet at Queen of Heaven Cemetery directly following the mass (we will meet in front of the cemetery office at the Wolf Rd entrance).