James Richard Olt

Born June 2, 1939 in Pekin to Richard J. and Minnie (Van Buren) Olt, he married Marlene Kay Willock on July 18, 1970 in Pekin. She survives.

Also surviving are one daughter, Julia (Jason) Olt-Hull of Pekin; one son, James (Megan) Olt, Jr. of Pekin and four grandchildren, Natalie Hull, Delaney Hull, Taylor Olt and James “Trey” Olt, III.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

He graduated from Pekin Community High School, where he played on the golf team and was a captain his senior year. He attended Knox College and Western Illinois University.

Jim proudly served in the United States Coast Guard from 1961 until his discharge from the reserves in 1972 with the rank of First Class Petty Officer.

He was president and co-owner of P.S. Olt Game Calls, which were sold and distributed worldwide.

Jim was an avid experienced hunter and enjoyed hunting waterfowl, upland game and big game out west and in Canada. He also shot sporting clays, skeet, trap, and rifle and pistol target shooting. He took part in several celebrity hunts with notable hunters like General Jimmy Doolittle, Roy Rogers, Bob Feller, Whitey Herzog, Bill Jordan, Hank Bauer and many others.

Jim was also a widely published freelance magazine writer and photographer with articles published in Field & Stream, Outdoor Life, Sports Afield and many other magazines. He also photographed several magazine covers.

He was a member of Ducks Unlimited, National Rifle Association, Outdoor Writers Association of American, Association of Great Lakes Outdoor Writers, American Legion, and the Tazewell County Farm Bureau, where he was a longtime board member. He also organized several sporting clay shoots for agricultural scholarships. Jim was a compassionate St. Louis Cardinals fan who had true sympathy for the fans of the team to the north.

He was a member of St. Paul United Church of Christ in Pekin.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, August 3, 2022 at Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin. Burt Dancey will officiate. Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Burial will be in Lakeside Cemetery in Pekin, with military rites accorded by the United States Coast Guard and the Tazewell Military Rites Team.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pekin Union Mission for “Angels in the Outfield” at Shade Park, 203 Court Street, Pekin, IL 61554 or to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Illinois Chapter, 1 East Wacker Drive, Suite 1400, Chicago, IL 60601.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com