James "Jim" Francis Unger of Des Plaines, age 60. Beloved son of the late Joseph F. Unger and Idamae nee Taylor; cherished brother of Katie (Gordon) Toland, Peggy (Patrick) Morris, Jane (Daniel) Poppelreiter, Patty (Thomas) LaCalamita, and Betsy (Michael) Neville, eight nieces and nephews, two grand nephews and many cousins. A graduate of Maine East High School and Northern Illinois University, Jim was a lifelong sports enthusiast. Private Services were held on February 5, 2021 at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines. Condolences are entrusted to the Unger family c/o Ryan-Parke Funeral Home, 120 S. Northwest Hwy., Park Ridge, IL 60068. A celebration of Jim’s life to be held at a later date.
Jim was a passionate soccer player who was All-Conference at Maine East and given a soccer scholarship to Northern Illinois University. He channeled his soccer career into becoming a committed long-distance runner for most of his adulthood, including participation in the Chicago marathon. Jim loved sports in general and was a big fan of the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Cubs. Jim was a country music fan (loved Charlie Daniels, Jerry Jeff Walker, and Steve Earle). We discovered early that Jim enjoyed being an amateur caricature artist (you could always tell who the subject was). A fisherman and an avid horse racing fan, with a vast knowledge of the sport and handicap system. Often attended events such as the Kentucky Derby. Jim was a dedicated and loyal employee of the Turano Bread Co, who took pride in his work. Jim loved dogs, starting with our first family pet, a black lab named “Mac."
It gives our family comfort to know that Jim has joined our departed family members including our parents Joseph and Idamae Unger, James Patrick Taylor (Grandfather), Uncle Jim Taylor, and other family members.
“Our hearts still ache in sadness and secret tears still flow, what it means to lose you no one will ever know.”
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