James E. "Jim" Ettling, age 75, of O'Fallon, Ill., born February 1, 1939, in Belleville, passed away August 28, 2014 at Memorial Hospital, surrounded by his family.

Born to Melvin and Irene, nee Ettling, Belton, Jim was raised by his maternal grandparents Eddie and Elizabeth Ettling. He graduated from Belleville Township High School in 1957, and was a veteran of the US Army and Air Force Reserves.

In 1961, he moved with his young bride to a farm east of O'Fallon; it was there at the Diamond E Stock Farm where he raised his children and enjoyed many years of tending to the land and cattle. His home, which was relocated to the farmland, was the original schoolhouse that was located in downtown O'Fallon. Jim loved history and understood the value of preserving it; he volunteered at the O'Fallon History Museum and was a member of the Gustave Koerner House Society in Belleville. He was a past member of the former 22nd Illinois Civil War Regiment Re-enactment group.

Jim worked as the lead carpenter at St. Elizabeth's Hospital for 39 years, retiring in 2004. He was also a self-employed farmer and livestock dealer at the Diamond E Stock Farm. He attended St. Nicholas Catholic Church and was a member of Yesterday's Kids. Jim was a member of the St Clair County farm bureau and a volunteer at Camp Ondessonk for many years.

Jim was dedicated to regular physical exercise and was an avid runner for many years, and a member of the River to River Running Club and a 30-year member of the YMCA. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, to include ocean cruises and attending the annual Tulip Festival in Pella, Iowa. Jim and his wife created many lasting memories with their family, particularly the Annual Pig Roast at the Diamond E Stock Farm and the annual February birthdays celebrations. He loved the outdoors and especially enjoyed attending his grandsons' sports activities.

He was preceded in death by his parents Melvin and Irene, nee Ettling, Belton; his maternal grandparents Edward and Elizabeth, nee Weber, Ettling; his paternal grandparents Robert and Eva, née Bush, Belton; his step-mother Florence (Russell) Belton; his brother Harold Belton; and parents-in-law Orval and Regine, nee Schwaegel, Fournie; and many other family and friends.

Surviving are his wife Patricia, nee Fournie, Ettling, of O'Fallon, whom he married October 17, 1961; his four children Brad (Shelly) Ettling of Shiloh, Peggy (Bill) Dohlke of Fairview Heights, Christy Ettling of Belleville, and Douglas Ettling of Belleville; grandsons Zachary and Clayton Ettling, and Drew and Garrett Dohlke; siblings Dale (Bette) Ettling of Belleville, Joe (Judy) Belton of Grove, Okla., Mary Belton of Maryville, Ill., Nancy Walker of O'Fallon, and Melvin Belton of Chicago.

Also surviving are his sister-in-law JoAnn (Rusty) Sturm of Mascoutah; brothers-in-law Dave (Sharon) Fournie of Mascoutah, and Ken Fournie of Gulf Breeze, Fla., a special family friend Faye Cady of Maryville, Ill., and a large, loving extended family.

Memorials are suggested to Amyloidosis Foundation, to support treatment for this rare condition; or Neurofibromatosis Foundation c/o Washington University, to support the efforts of Garrett; or the Gustave Koerner House Society, to support historical preservation.

Visitation: Friends may call from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Tuesday, September 2, 2014 at the Spirituality Center at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, O'Fallon, and after 10:00 am, Wednesday, September 3, 2014, at the main church building.

Yesterday's Kids will conduct a walk-through at 10:15 am, Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at the church.

Funeral Service: Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00 am, Wednesday, September 3, 2014 at the church with Msgr. William Hitpas presiding. Entombment will follow at Valhalla Gardens of Memory, Belleville, Ill.