James Williams

Funeral services and Firefighters Memorial will be at 10:00 A.M., Monday, January 3, 2011, at Brintlinger and Earl Funeral Home, Decatur, IL, with visitation 3 to 8 P.M., Sunday, January 2, with firefighters walk-through at 5 P.M. at the funeral home. Burial will be in Illini Cemetery, Warrensburg, IL. Memorials may be made to the Warrensburg Volunteer Fire Department.Jim was born at home on the corner of Main and North Streets in Warrensburg on December 8, 1936 to Howard E. and Louise D. (Stukins) Williams on their first wedding anniversary. He was a lifelong resident of Warrensburg and the 3rd generation of his family to be born in the Home Place and reside in Warrensburg. His great grandfather William W. Williams settled there in 1874 and the first generation to be born there was his grandfather John A. Williams, the second generation was his father Howard E. Williams. Jim attended Warrensburg Grade School, and earned certificates in regular and punctual attendance and an award for 300 perfect spelling lessons. Jim was a graduate of Warrensburg High School, class of 1954. While in high school he played the drums in band and received his band letter. After graduation he joined the Air National Guard 170th Fighter Bomber Squadron based out of Springfield. While in the Guard and serving as a reservist he received air police training and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. He attended OCS in 1961 and was honorably discharged in July of 1962.He owned and operated the Williams Standard Station in Warrensburg and worked with his fathers scrap business. He worked for the Norfolk and Southern Railroad, formerly the Wabash, beginning his career there in 1957 as an electricians apprentice and later becoming a foreman. He retired in 1993 after 36 years of service. He served on the Warrensburg Volunteer Fire Department for over 50 years, retiring after 25 years as Chief on December 31, 2000. He was a certified first responder and certified firefighter I, II, and III. Jim was committed to the Department and was trained in all aspects of firefighting and EMS. He is still fondly referred to as Chief by a lot of the guys, even after retirement he still continued to enjoy events held at the firehouse and always had both scanners going so he didnt miss anything!Jim touched the lives of many in his years of serving the Warrensburg Fire Department, the Community of Warrensburg and many surrounding communities, and will be missed by many. He has held many positions within the Community of Warrensburg including director of the Illini Township ESDA, substitute mail carrier, building inspector, and many others; he also served on the Warrensburg Village Board for five terms from 1978 to 1982. In 1995 he joined the E911 ADHOC Committee. He served on the Macon County ETSB Board from the time it was formed in 1997 until 2010, and was involved in bringing the Enhanced 911 system to Macon County. He was a past president of the Macon County Fire Protection Association. He taught Fire Science Classes at Richland Community College and served on the long range planning committee for the college.Jim married Shirley Dianne Tucker on July 23, 1956 in Decatur, Illinois. She preceded him in death on December 31, 2004. To this union two children were born James A. Buster Williams II, who preceded him in death on February 3, 2006 and Kelly Joann Williams. After his retirement, Jim loved to go fishing and after his children were no longer interested he would go with his grandsons, only going for the fun of it never keeping anything just spending time with his grandsons. He and Shirley also took the grandsons on many vacations, spending as much time as possible with them. Jim was affiliated with the Warrensburg United Methodist Church and also enjoyed collecting stamps and coins and fire department related collectibles. Surviving to cherish his memory are his daughter and son in law Kelly and Brian Zinn of Warrensburg; grandsons Brian J. BJ Zinn of Decatur and Colton J. Zinn of Warrensburg; step granddaughter Sonya Seggelke of Decatur; sister and brother in law Charlotte and Jim Duke of Falls of Rough, Kentucky and brother and sister in law Al and Rosemary Williams of Southern, Illinois; nieces and nephews Robin and Clyde Canary of Decatur, Illinois, James and Min Duke of Colorado, Charleen and Rick Lohse of Decatur, Illinois, Susanne Apke of Decatur, Illinois, Artie and Randy Young of Smiths Grove, Kentucky, Gidget and Pat Nance of Decatur, Illinois, Sissy and Bob Lyons of Denver, Colorado, Lynnette and Michael Staley of Southern, Illinois, Dennis and Becky Moore of Decatur, Illinois, Danny Moore of Colorado; Uncle Wilbur Stukins and wife Phyllis of Decatur, Illinois; many great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.He was preceded in death by his parents Howard and Louise, wife Shirley and son James A II Buster.The family would like to thank the staff and nurses of DMH Hospice for their care and compassion during this difficult time. "
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