James E. “Jim” Stack, Jr., 73, of Collinsville, Illinois passed away at 9:06 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, 2020, at Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri. He was born July 20, 1947, in Granite City, Illinois, son of the late James E. Stack Sr. and Wilma Rose (née Grob) Stack. He married Karen (née Griffith) Stack on November 27, 1985, in Edwardsville, and she survives. The 1965 graduate of Granite City Senior High School first worked at MacDonald Douglas before joining the service. He worked as a Rate Setter for the former General Steel Company, and he served as the Assistant Superintendent of Streets in Granite City. Jim had also owned and operated Stackorp, Inc./St. Louis Lead Recycling and Stack Environmental Consulting; later he had also co-owned and operated REDCO Marine and Stackers Restaurant. Jim retired in December 2013 from the Illinois Department of Transportation after 11 years of dedicated service as the Urban Planning Unit Chief.
Jim was very involved in the community throughout the years, serving on various boards and volunteering for many organizations. At present, he was serving on the Collinsville Township Board of Trustees and as a Madison County Deputy Coroner. He had served as a Madison County Democratic Party Chairman from June 2012 until April 2014. Jim was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Jesters. He was also a member of the Ainad Shrine in East St. Louis and the Troy/Edwardsville Shrine Club, as well as serving on the Shriner’s Honorary Guard and the Director’s staff. He was a lifetime member of the AMVETS Post #204 in Madison. He was also a former Fourth Degree Knight of Columbus in Granite City.
The United States Navy veteran proudly served his country during the Vietnam War and was the recipient of the Navy Defense Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with 1 Bronze Star, Vietnam Campaign Medal, and the Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon. As a member of the CB’s (Construction Battalion), he served 18 months in Da Nang Vietnam, first as a member of Naval Intelligence, but mostly as a Truck Master for the Port of Da Nang. He won three commendations for breaking the record of materials shipped in one day and breaking that record twice more.
Jim enjoyed many, many friends and is remembered as having been loved by all and was always considered to be the “life of any party”! Some of his brothers say that although he was only 73, he was probably more like 95 if judging by his accomplishments and enjoyment of life. He knew how to have fun! He enjoyed his days of boating and fishing, cherished his grandchildren, and will be remembered for the love and special times shared with his wife, family, and many friends.
In addition to his beloved wife of 35 years, he is survived by two stepchildren: Paul (Gigi) DeLuca of Collinsville and Laura DeLuca (fiancé Joe Pavlovec) of Troy; four grandchildren: Nigel DeLuca (fiancée Allison Kelly), Killian DeLuca, Aaron Stadts (girlfriend Emily Otten), and Adam Stadts (fiancée Kylee Patterson); six brothers: Daniel (Dil) Stack, Raymond Stack, Michael (Joann) Stack, Bradley (Patti) Stack, Anthony (Robin) Stack, and Stephen Stack; two sisters: Kathleen (Dave) Cerny and Anna Marie “Amy” Stack; sister-in-law, Kaye (Richard) Wilson; many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Wilma Stack, and his Aunt Eleanor Buente.
Due to the Covid pandemic, the family requests a private family visitation and Funeral Mass at St. Jerome Catholic Church in Troy at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 6, 2020, with Father Kevin Laughery as celebrant. A private burial with full military honors will be held at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis. You may join the family service on Livestream on the Facebook page of St. Jerome Catholic Church. In lieu of floral tributes, memorials may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital. Irwin Chapel of Glen Carbon in charge of arrangements. www.irwinchapel.com
