James Bradley Kionka, 40, of O’Fallon, Illinois, gently slipped away Friday evening, August 7, 2026, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, with his family at his side, after a long and difficult hospital stay.
The family expresses their gratitude to the multitude of doctors, residents, nurses, and staff who cared for James during his hospitalization at both Memorial East in Shiloh and Barnes-Jewish in St. Louis, and to his many friends from Panama (Andy) to New York (Jesse), as well as many who traveled south from Chicago to spend time with him in the hospital.
James (“Jimmy” to his family and childhood friends) was born in Sacramento, California, on January 22, 1986, but spent nearly his entire life in Illinois, beginning in Carbondale in Southern Illinois, moving north to the Metro-East (Swansea and O’Fallon), attending college in Champaign-Urbana, and finally reaching his heart-city, Chicago. James graduated from O’Fallon Township High School in 2004 and the University of Illinois School of Engineering in
2008. He was fascinated by computers from an early age and became a skilled programmer in multiple languages. He loved his life in Chicago, cherished his many friends, and found immense joy in concerts and music festivals. He enjoyed traveling all over the world with his travelling partner, Misty Lambert, and doted on their shared feline friends.
He is survived by his mother, Debra Kionka (Richard Thierry) of O’Fallon, Illinois; his father, Edward (Terri) Kionka of Edwardsville, Illinois; sister, Caroline Kionka in Springfield, Illinois; brother, John Kionka of O’Fallon; grandfather, James Sargent of O’Fallon, and a host of dear friends across the country.
For those inclined, memorial donations in honor of James are suggested to: The American Civil Liberties Union. Share a memory, message the family, or view a photo tribute at www.wfh-ofallon.com.
A Celebration of Life, to include a playlist of James’s favorite music, will be held from 2:00 -4:00 PM, Saturday, August 29, 2026, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 West Washington, St., O’Fallon, Illinois.
