James C. Nevins

James C. Nevins
Jacksonville - James C. Nevins, 88, of Springfield, and formerly of Jacksonville, died Friday, May 24, 2024, at Lewis Memorial Christian Village in Springfield. He was born October 15, 1935, in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of George Frederick and Augusta Kentzinger Nevins. He married Patricia A. Horton on February 4, 1956, in St. Louis, and she survives.
Jim is also survived by three children, Jeffrey C. (Hillary) Nevins of Springfield, Juliet R. (Craig) Winger of Lead, South Dakota, and Stephanie (Mark) Starr of Bozeman, Montana; eight grandchildren, Walter Starr of Bozeman, Montana, Collin (Erica) Jones of Melbourne, Florida, Indiana Jones of Orlando, Florida, and William Teichman, Atticus Teichman, Allison Teichman, Jacob Nevins, and Norah Nevins, all of Springfield. He is also survived by one brother, Theodore T. (Janice) Habeck of St. Louis, and two sisters, Barbara Parker of St. Louis, and Christine Eatherton of Naylor, MO. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Andrea R. Nevins, one brother, Alan F. Habeck, and one sister, Viola Burton.
Jim attended Catholic elementary and high school in St. Louis where he served in the Naval Air Reserves before later serving two years with the United States Army. He graduated from Colorado School of Mines in Golden, Colorado with a degree in Metallurgy and Chemical Engineering. He worked in scientific research sales as a chemical engineer in California, Colorado, and Arizona. In 1986, Jim came to Jacksonville to help launch the compact disc plant at EMI (Capitol Records), from where he retired in 2004. Following his retirement, Jim did consulting work and later became a pharmacy tech.
Jim's 1972 encounter with the Cursillo movement in Arizona became an ongoing passion for the remainder of his life, continuing in Illinois as a team member, board representative, and lay director. He also found "the stage" in Jacksonville, appearing in many productions with the Jacksonville Theater Guild, the Legacy and Muni in Springfield. Jim loved the years he spent in Church, especially Church of Our Saviour, as a Lector and Eucharistic Minister, and helping others find and live the faith through RCIA, Pre-Cana, and Parish Council. He will be remembered for his stories and the deep love he had for his family and friends.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 1, 2024, at Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville, with burial at Calvary Cemetery. A prayer service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. on Friday at the Williamson Funeral Home, followed by a visitation from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to Quincy Cursillo (PO Box 3153, Quincy, IL 62305). Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.