James Henry Thoma, age 93, of Port St. Lucie, FL and formerly of Villa Park, IL, passed away on November 9, 2020. Loving father of Jim of Port St. Lucie, FL and daughter, Kathy (James Stittsworth) of St. Johns, FL. Cherished Papa of Shannon and Shaun Stittsworth; step grandfather of Jessica (John Michael) Dowell, Toni Stittsworth and Melissa Michurski; dear brother-in-law of Joan Staven and Harryett King; cherished uncle to many. Preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ramona; parents, Joseph and Margaret; brothers Robert, Richard, Thomas and Donald; sister, Elizabeth; parents-in-law Harriet and David King; brothers-in-law James King, Richard King and Duane Staven; and sisters-in-law Eleanor Thoma, Ida Mary Thoma, Maryrose Thoma and Barbara Thoma.
Member of Holy Family Catholic Church, PSL. Jim was born in Milwaukee, WI to Joseph and Margaret, and grew up in Oak Park, IL. He attended St. Edmund Grade School and graduated from Oak Park and River Forest High School in 1945. He proudly served in the U.S. Navy during WWII. He graduated from the University of WI in 1950 with a degree in business administration. Jim was employed as a sales representative for Ohio Medical Products for 36 years and was inducted into the Products Sales Achievement Hall of Fame in 1980. He met his wife, Ramona King, at the UW. They were married in 1953 and had two children, Kathy and Jim. They lived in Elmhurst, IL for 2 years and in Villa Park, IL for 54 years. Jim was very active in Villa Park Youth Baseball and was a member of the Villa Park Lion’s Club where he was Lion of the Year in 1992 and president in 2002-2003. The family enjoyed summer vacations with family friends at Hahn’s Roost Resort in Hayward, WI where he finally caught his prized “keeper” musky in 1971. Jim excelled at baseball in his youth and in bowling and golf as an adult. He loved Dixieland jazz music and played the trombone in the Mad Monks of Melody for over 20 years. One of the highlights of his musical career was playing with the Chicago Cubs Dixieland Band at Wrigley Field several times. Jim’s wife, Mona, passed away in 2011 after 58 years of marriage. He moved to Florida and lived with his son, Jim. He was much loved by his family and friends, and will be greatly missed.
A Private Funeral Mass for Family will be held at Holy Family Catholic Church, 2330 SE Mariposa Ave., Port St. Lucie, FL, at 12:00 PM EST on 11/21/2020. Mass will be live streamed on Facebook, attendees can search for Aycock Funeral Home - Floresta (facebook.com/AycockFloresta) and LIKE the page-the live streaming will begin approximately 10 minutes before the service and will be available for viewing afterwards.
Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there will not be a gathering following the Mass. He will be interred at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, IL at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) would be appreciated. Arrangements have been entrusted to Aycock Funeral Home in Port Saint Lucie, FL.
Please visit their website at https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/port-st-lucie-fl/james-thoma-9898673 where family and friends are encouraged to share memories of Jim.
