James C. Ekstam, 88 of Greenville, passed from this life after a short illness. Born and raised in Bloomington, Illinois. He served in the 82nd AAA Haywards Company, 2ndDivision of the Army as a gunner and turret specialist during the Korean war. After discharge, he worked for the Kroger Company as a meatcutter for 38 years. He and his wife, Violet Joy (Blake) Ekstam owned and operated a rental apartment business for 25 years. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge 43 of Bloomington, Ill. and the Scottish Rite. He was a past member of the VFW and the American Legion. After the death of his wife Joy, he married Deborah Schulz and moved to Kentucky and farmed south of Greenville. He joined the Presbyterian Church in Greenville and served as an elder.
Survivors include his wife Deborah, and his children Jeff Ekstam, of Bloomington, Ill., Janet Gremillion, of Charlotte, N.C., Judy Williams of Mesa, Ariz. and Greg Ekstam, of Greenville, and their families that include 6 grandchildren and 8 great-grandchildren.
A public visitation will be held at East Lawn Funeral Home on Friday, October 1 from 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. with a service at 2:30 p.m. Military rites and burial will follow at East Lawn Memorial Gardens, Bloomington, Ill.
