James Freeman Vivian Sr.

James is survived by his wife Doris of 69 years, his son James Freeman Vivian, Jr (Tina), daughters Sharon Hansberry (Scott), Patricia Kollack (Keith), Denise Heitman, sister Gladys Mitchem (John), 9 loving grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren, nephews, nieces and extended family.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Luther and Arrie (Miller) Vivian, his brothers Albert (Audrey) Vivian, Frederick Vivian and Donald Vivian, his 3 sisters Agnes Mathis (Jewett), Thelma Jung (Wilber), Delores Suter (Henry) and a grandson Kevin Heitman.

James was a loving son, father and husband. He was a member of Parkview Church of the Nazarene.

He was a very quiet man but had a wealth of stories to tell you if you just asked him. He had a great on the job work ethic as a truck driver and at home as a family man. He worked until he was in his late 80’s. His children finally had to tell him it was time to retire, not to look for another job.

In 1943, James dropped out of high school to serve his country during WWII. He joined the Navy as a hospital apprentice mate (Navy Corpsman) and served in the Pacific. After completing basic training in Idaho, he was sent to Pearl Harbor, then set sail to places such as The Solomon Islands, New Hebrides, The Philippines, New Guinea, Guadal Canal, and Iwo Jima. After the war, he was honorably discharged.

One of his favorite passions was eating, he never missed a meal. He’d always say you can call me anything you like as long as you don’t call me late to dinner.

He loved reading the newspaper every day and clipping articles that were of interest to him. He took numerous hunting and fishing trips with the men in his family to gather later with their bounty around the family meal table.

He drove our mother crazy collecting items others threw out just to make them his very own personal treasures. We had to sneak these trinkets out in order to get rid of some of it.

He loved camping with his family and taking them on vacations during the summer. The family of six would pile into the red family station wagon with the luggage and camping gear tied down on the top of the car and hit the road. One time while driving down the highway a police officer pulled him over. Dad was wondering why he was being pulled over, well come to find out dad’s suitcase had blown off the top of the car and his underwear and clothes was flying out all over the highway. We turned around, collected up what clothes we could find put them back in the suitcase and tied it back down on the roof of the car. We all got back in the car and continued onto our destination.

Funeral Services will be held at 11 am Friday, August 30, 2019 at Lake View Memorial Gardens Fairview Heights, IL with Rev Jay Shoff officiating, interment will be at Lake View Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 Thursday, August 29 at Lake View Memorial Gardens Fairview Heights, IL.

A reception will be held immediately after the grave service at Park View Church of the Nazarene 50 Longacre Dr, Fairview Heights, IL 62208. Memorials can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to the Parkview Church of the Nazarene 50 Longacre Dr, Fairview Heights, IL 62208