CHAMPAIGN, IL (Chambana Today) – James Edward Marlow, 87, of Champaign, passed away peacefully at 3:30 p.m. Friday, July 5, 2024, at Carle Hospital in Urbana, with family at his side.
Jim was born on December 24, 1936, in Clinton, Tennessee, a son of Luther and Dora Marlow. He married his high school sweetheart, Mary Lou Jenkins, on May 20, 1955, and they were married for 69 years. She survives.
Also surviving are his three daughters; Debbie (Mike) Broadrick of Champaign, Peggy (Dan) Walton of Savoy, and Theresa (Jim) Knight of Leesburg, Florida, five dearly loved grandsons; Neal (Kristin) Pankau of Galena, Ohio, Adam (Gina) Walton of Champaign, Eric (Jennifer) Walton of Urbana, Joey (Hannah) Broadrick of Champaign, and Thomas Broadrick of Oahu, Hawaii. Jim was also blessed with eight great-grandchildren.
His parents and three brothers preceded him in death, along with his beloved only granddaughter, Erin Broadrick.
Jim grew up in Urbana and graduated from Urbana High School in 1954. He was a member of the UHS golf team which began his lifelong love of the game of golf. He worked as a caddy during high school at the Urbana Country Club and was known to jump in the pond with the other caddies at the end of the day to cool off, retrieve lost golf balls, and sell them back to the golfers the next day.
In his later years, Jim was fortunate enough to play one hole with the great Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus, who was travelling through the Midwest with a fundraiser. He always said that was the highlight of his golfing days.
Jim was a member of the Illinois National Guard, Tank Division, joining right out of high school in 1954 until his honorable discharge in 1962. The Guard’s motto, “Always Ready, Always There”, was something Jim believed during his military service and throughout his entire life, always stepping up for friends and family. He was also a member of the American Legion.
Anyone who knew Jim knew what a hard worker he was, something he wanted to instill in his family. He spent part of his 50-year working career as manager of the family moving and storage business and part as a truck driver, driving for several trucking companies, retiring in 2010 at the age of 75. He was a proud member of the Teamsters Union.
Upon his retirement, Jim and Mary Lou were happy to spend their winters in a senior community in Tucson, Arizona, where he volunteered and made many friends. Jim was especially interested in working with stained glass, and was known to make beautiful stained-glass clocks, giving them as gifts to family and friends. He enjoyed watching sports with his Arizona friends, cheering for the Fighting Illini and St. Louis Cardinals, and was a lifelong fan of both.
Jim served his community through the Elks in his younger years and through the Bible Baptist Church in his later years, of which he was a member. He was also a lifelong blood donor.
We find comfort in knowing that Dad’s legacy lives on through the lessons he taught us, the love he shared, and the memories we will cherish forever.
We would like to thank the staff at Carle Hospital in Urbana for the loving and compassionate care they provided to our dad.
Condolences may be offered at Renner-Wikoff Chapel.