James L. McDearmon

James Lawrence McDearmon, 85, of Freeport, IL passed away November 13, 2024 at FHN Memorial Hospital. He was born December 3, 1938 in Jordan Township, Whiteside County, Illinois. In high school, Jim pumped gas at a filling station, and worked with Bob Reverts studying wildlife in Mount Carroll. He would often recite the scientific names for animals that he learned like mephitis mephitis (skunk) and procyon lotor (racoon). He went to state competition for vocal solos and a quartet. Jim graduated from Mount Carroll High School, Class of 1956. After high school, he and his first wife owned a soda shoppe on Main Street in Mount Carroll and a bar in Shannon, IL. He attended Monmouth College as an engineering major and was a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon. After college, Jim went to work at Honeywell in Rockford, taught computer science at Highland Community College in Freeport, IL, and then moved to San Francisco. Jim married Suzo Yamagami 575 months and 11 days ago in San Francisco, CA on December 2, 1976. Jim worked as a systems analyst for many companies including Itel, Thomas Engineering, Honeywell in San Francisco, CA and Phoenix, AZ, and CTSG. He and Suzo owned and operated the Blacktop Inn in Milledgeville, IL. Jim then worked for Northwest Steel & Wire, Economy/St. Paul, and Prudential (Cigna) in Dubuque, IA. Jim would commute to Dubuque at 3:00am every day and once didn't notice until he arrived that he had left with his slippers on. Thank goodness they were black with hard bottoms (they were the talk of the office). He later retired from Prudential (Cigna) in 2007.
Jim enjoyed sports like horse shoes, deer hunting, golfing, bowling, fishing, and he was an avid Chicago Cubs fan. He enjoyed watching the Olympics, especially track and field. Jim also enjoyed attending his high school reunions.
He is survived by his wife Suzo of Freeport, IL; his five children, daughter Lori (Tim) Luchner of Prattville, AL and their children Ryan (Kaylin) Luchner, Jessica (Michael) Minardi, Adam (Kelly) Luchner, and Colleen (Donny) Mills; daughter Heidi McDearmon of Prattville, AL; son Curt (Stacy) McDearmon of Mesa, AZ and their kids Dillon, Anna, and Ali Harper; son Scott (Christine) McDearmon of Olympia, WA; and daughter Keiko (Jerod) Kittoe of Freeport, IL and their children Dailynn, Asher, and Kira, daughter-in-law Lisa McDearmon of Mt. Carroll and his grandson Zachary (Zoie) McDearmon; three brothers Don (Patty) McDearmon of Port Byron, IL, Jeff (Karen) McDearmon of Morrison, IL, and Joe (Joan) McDearmon of Quincy, IL; three sisters Donna Spencer of Beloit, WI, Doris (Don) Rogers of Mt. Carroll, IL, and Jane (Rodger) Calsyn of Mt. Carroll, IL; and many great-grandchildren.
Preceding Jim in death are his parents Lawrence and Dorothy McDearmon, son Craig McDearmon, brother Dean McDearmon, and sister Judy Moshure.
Cremation rites have been accorded. A memorial service will be held in the spring of 2025 at the Burke-Tubbs Funeral Home. A memorial has been established in his memory.