James C. Conant

James C. Conant, 75, of Woodridge, was born November 18, 1945 in Corsicana, TX to the late Edna (Fluker) and Fred Conant, passing on November 27, 2020. Beloved husband to Charlene (Slowiak), loving father to James Jr. and Lisa, “papa” to grand pup Rhett; dear brother to Lynda (Charles) Mosier, Vincent (late Karen) Conant, Timothy (Susan) Conant and the late Gregory C. Conant, who was killed in Vietnam. Fond uncle of many nieces and nephews.

Jim was a Navy Corpsman (6 yrs) also serving with the 3rd Marine Division in Vietnam from 1966-1967 as a field combat medic and surgical tech deployed with medevac helicopters. After discharged from Vietnam, he worked as a surgical tech in Arizona and Chicago. Afterwards, he was a Physician’s Assistant at Westside V.A. (2 yrs). For 8 years he worked at Cook County Hospital blood bank performing Pherisis. Taking these skills further, he helped open the Pherisis unit at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago and continued his work helping cancer patients for 21 years. He then worked 3 years at University of Illinois performing Pherisis. Before retiring he spent 8 years as a Center Operations Supervisor with Heartland Blood Centers. Jim worked a total of 33 yrs as a Supervisor in Hemapherisis Units supporting Hematology/Oncology and bone marrow transplant patients and donors. Co-authored publications on Bone Marrow Transplantation, Marrowpherisis and Therapeutic Apherisis with doctors at Michael Reese Hospital and the University of Chicago Hospitals and Medical Centers.

A book of poems was also published in 1977 including some he wrote while in Vietnam.

Visitation will be on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at Blake-Lamb Funeral Home, 5015 Lincoln Ave, Lisle IL. Burial will be at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, 20953 W Hoff Rd, Elwood, IL 60421.

In consideration of the safety of our guests and associates, Blake-Lamb Funeral Home will adhere to the current gathering restrictions in the state of Illinois, which allow 10 or fewer guests at services. Proper social distancing must be practiced and all guests will be required to wear face masks at all times. Thank you for your cooperation.

In light of covid-19 we will be doing a rotating visitation so that everyone who wishes to pay their respects may do so safely. If you would like to attend the visitation, please contact the Conant family so they may schedule your arrival time.

Please omit flowers at this time as we will be having a more personalized Celebration of Life sometime this Summer to allow all friends and family the opportunity to attend, free from COVID restrictions. At that time, we will return to the Cemetery to perform a full Military Salute.