James Phalen

Jim Phalen was born on June 25, 1935, in Jacksonville, Illinois, the son of August F. and Birdie E. Stricklin Phalen. He was married to Mary Theresa Evans on June 16, 1962, in Beardstown, IL.
He is survived by his wife and two children, Amy Sue Phalen-Staudenmaier (m. Rob Staudenmaier) of Auburn, IL and Patrick Thomas Phalen (Kathy Wilkins) of Springfield, IL and five grandchildren, Ryan Howard (Sara), Katie Gardner (Ryan), Nick, John and Anna Phalen, and four great-grandchildren, Griffin Gardner, Gideon Gardner, Gibson Gardner and Allison Howard.
He graduated from Routt College High School in 1953 where he participated in all sports. From 1953 to 1955 he attended Illinois College, played football and baseball, and had "one hell of a good time!". He graduated from Western IL University, Macomb, IL in 1958 and received his Master of Arts Degree from Northeastern Missouri State (Truman University), Kirksville, MO.
In the early 1950's, he played fast-pitch softball with the Stewart Jacksonville Cozy Dogs, which was made up of Routh and Jacksonville High School athletes. They played in the "A" league at Nichols Park until softball was discontinued there. Many lasting friendships resulted from this team.
After college, he entered the US Army in September 1958 and served through August 1960. He was a company clerk with the 581st Medical Company (Ambulance)(Separate) which supported The Landstuhl Hospital in Landstuhl, Germany.
He taught and coached at 4 high schools: Corpus Christi Catholic High School, Galesburg, IL (1961-1964), Bluffs High School, Bluffs, IL (1964-1969), Rushville High School, Rushville, IL, (1969-1970), Triopia Jr-Sr High School, Concord, IL (1970-1997). He retired in June of 1994 from Triopia and was rehired to teach Drivers Education for the 1994-1997 school years.
He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and trap shooting, and got a big kick out of being around his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He also loved country music and hated long-winded disk jockeys.
He was a member of Our Saviour Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, Council #868, the Jacksonville Sportsmen's Club and the Loyal Order of the Moose, Lodge #865.
A funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Church of Our Saviour in Jacksonville, with burial to follow at Calvary Cemetery in Jacksonville. A prayer service will be conducted at 3:30 p.m. on Friday, January 9, at Williamson Funeral Home, after which the family will meet friends from 4 to 7 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Church of Our Saviour, Our Saviour School, and Routt High School. Condolences may be left online at www.airsman-hires.com.