James Thomas Ory

On April 27, 2019, James (Jim) Thomas Ory passed peacefully at the age of 74 from complications of Waldenstrom's Macroglobulinemia at his beloved Sanibel, FL home with his wife Antoinette (Toni), daughter Jessica, and son Anthony by his side. Jim was born on February 22, 1945 in Elmhurst, IL to Francis J. Ory & Marion L. Ory (nee Buckel) the third of ten children in his family. Growing up in the town of Naperville, IL, Jim attended Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic School where he was an altar boy. He went to high school at St. Procopius Academy (later Benet Academy) in Lisle, IL - Class of 1963. He then enlisted in the US Air Force where he was awarded the highest security clearance to become a Nuclear Weapons Technician while stationed at Beale Air Force Base in California. Jim loved serving his country at Beale where he could enjoy the California coastal sun on the weekends. It was a very nice life for a young man from the quiet farming / small business community of Naperville where his ancestors had settled from Alsace, France and Germany in the mid 1800's. After returning from the USAF in 1967, Jim went to work at his father's lumber store before becoming an apprentice electrician. He was a proud member of IBEW Local 701 (DuPage County, IL) from July 1970 until his retirement in June 2003. In July 2003, after vacationing on Sanibel Island for over 15 years, he and his wife, Toni, moved from Naperville to their new home on Sanibel as full time residents. He called it the "S" island - sun, surf, swimming, sand, & yes, sometimes storms. Besides the joy of living on a beautiful island, Jim's hobbies included photography, amateur radio, puttering around the house, and genealogy. He was able to trace his ancestors back to the mid 1500's and set up an extensive database on geneanet.org. He spent time with FISH of Sanibel, a community organization, as an equipment volunteer. He was also a member of the Sanibel Emergency Management Plan Team assisting after Hurricane Charley (2004) to help teach the city employees Amateur Radio operation. His call sign in Florida was K4ORY - previously in Illinois, WD9ATJ. Dining out with his wife of almost 34 years, Jim could often be seen at some of his preferred island restaurants enjoying a beer, a glass of wine, or his "dry Southern Comfort Manhattan on the rocks with a twist" along with his favorite meals. He leaves a big hole in the fabric of many lives including his loving wife, Toni, daughter Jessica (John) Frederick, son Anthony (Holly), step-son Michael Biewenga (Daun), grandchildren Austin, Logan, Cade, Mira, West, Allison, and Grant. Missing him also are many nieces and nephews along with dear friends around the US, including his father-in-law, John (Helen) Detente. He is also survived by brothers Philip, Timothy (Joyce), Michael (Wendy), William, & Andrew and sisters Marianne Hume & Virginia (Joe) Mocerino and brother-in-law Bob Stone. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters Kathleen (Robert) Guler and Marjorie (Bob) Stone. A Celebration of a Life Well Lived will be held at the end of June in Plano, IL with family and friends. In the meantime, we know he would like you to have your favorite drink of choice and give a toast to a multi-talented man who dearly loved his family, helping people, having fun, giving hugs, and enjoying life while making memories. Donations can be made in his memory to the Ding Darling Wildlife Society (www.dingdarlingsociety.org) or to Hope Hospice (www.donate.hopehcs.org) For further information, you can read about Jim's health journey at www.caringbridge.org/visit/jimtory.