James E. Cooney

James E. Cooney, age 84, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family at his home on Tuesday September 27, 2016. Jim was born on April 7th 1932 in Gary Ind. to Edward James & Leola May Cooney. He grew up in East Chicago Ind. and attended his beloved East Chicago Washington HS where he was an all-area wrestler and then went on to Purdue University to study civil engineering. He served in the US Navy during the Korean War, successfully completing the rigorous 2 month Submarine school in New London, Conn. and then served as a crew member of the USS Sea Poacher based out of Key West Fla. 1951 thru 1955. Upon completion of his active duty he worked for Exxon in New Orleans & Caracas Venezuela until returning back to East Chicago in 1957 after the premature passing of his mother. This led to his meeting June Kirincic and after one year of courtship, the couple was married in 1958 and were later blessed with a son James and daughter Erin. Jim had a successful career in the steel fabrication & construction industry spanning over 5 decades with over 40 years at Midwest Steel Erectors & FK Ketler Company. He was a consummate professional respected by his peers and the Iron Workers that constructed the numerous buildings and bridges around the Midwest he worked on from the estimating process of securing bids thru the completion of construction. Projects included: The Springfield Convention Center, Chicago Board of Trade Renovation & Soldier Field End Zone Addition. Jim’s passion outside of work included coaching Little League & Babe Ruth baseball along with traveling and attending the many athletic, academic & artistic pursuits of his children & grandchildren from grade school thru College. Travel was also an avocation that he enjoyed with his wife June accompanied by his daughter Erin and husband Patrick to a variety of places such as Bermuda, Hawaii, Alaska & annual trips to Cabo San Lucas. Probably his greatest enjoyment were the numerous simpler family vacations to the Black Hills in South Dakota & Door County Wisconsin. He is survived by his wife June; daughter Erin Lane and husband Patrick, his son Jim Cooney, wife Dona and their daughters Shannon & Colleen, brother in law Gordon Scofield, his daughter Cathy and son Terrance. He was preceded in death by his mother Leola, father Edward and his sister Nancy Scofield. Jim’s family and friends will miss him very much and consider themselves lucky to have been blessed to share their lives with such a loyal Husband, Father, Grandfather & friend. Family & Friends are invited to a Visitation on Wednesday, October 5, 2016 from 4:00 - 8:00 p.m. with a Tribute & Celebration of his Life at 7:00 p.m. at Chapel Lawn Funeral Home, 8178 S. Cline Ave. (one-half mile south of U.S. 30) Schererville, IN. Funeral services and interment on Thursday will be private. Please visit: www.chapellawnfunerals.com.