Obituary: Walter

James Edward Walter, 86, of Fairbury, died at 3:27p.m. Wednesday (September 10, 2025) at Serenity Villa, Fairbury, with family by his bedside. 

Funeral will be at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, September 14, 2025 at Fairbury Apostolic Christian Church with ministers of the church officiating. Burial will follow in South Apostolic Christian Cemetery, Fairbury. Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury, has charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be 4 to 7:00pm, Saturday, September 13, 2025 at Duffy-Pils Memorial Home, Fairbury and calling hours will be 2 to 2:45pm prior to the funeral service on Sunday.

Memorials may be made to Prairie Lands Foundation, Fairview Haven Retirement Community, or SELCAS.

James was born December 26, 1938 in Fairbury, a son of Edward and Helen Schaffer Walter. He married Juanita Rasmus on June 11, 1961. Also surviving are three daughters, Diane (Jim) Koehl of Cropsey, Michelle (Ben) Wiegand of Yardley, PA, Jami (Adam) Luginbuhl of Conshohocken, PA, and one son, Thaddeus (Molly) Walter of Fairbury; 11 grandchildren, Justin (Michelle), Ashley (Brad), Lauren (Jamin), Emily (Timothy), Gwen, Cami (Colin),  Avery, Vivian, Simon, Reigan and Evan and 8 great grandchildren, Monroe, Avery, Falcon, Winter, Reuben, Eli, Clara, Marcus; brothers Keith (Jackie), Harvey (Margaret), Peter (LaRae), Duane (Marlene), Donald (Sue) of Illinois; sisters Barbara (James) Kuenzi and Marilyn Kuenzi both of Oregon; Rosetta Edelman, Nancy (John) Vitzthum, Cynthia (Warren) Edelman all of Fairbury, IL. He is also survived by 5 sisters-in-law, Karen Walter, Hazel Isaacson, Bessie Ritter, Margaret Ketchmark, Janet Harrison, and Doris Rasmus.

Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife Juanita, his parents, one sister, Shirley Kuenzi, brothers Charles Walter and infant Lee Arthur and two brothers-in-law, Lynn Kuenzi and Walter Edelman. 

He was a loving member of the Apostolic Christian Church for almost 60 years. He graduated as Valedictorian from Fairbury High School in 1957. Over the course of his life, he worked in the agriculture industry for Honegger’s Feed Company and as a co-owner of H-W Systems. He was a Badger Equiptment Salesman for many of those years. Jim also served on the board of many local businesses, including Fairview Haven Retirement Community, Fairbury Hospital, Citizens State Bank of Cropsey, and National Frame Builders. Jim and Juanita enjoyed traveling the United States with their children. Highlights of travel include a trip to China with the Illinois Pork Producers, Europe, and a trip to Kenya with dear friends. Jim also enjoyed many work mission trips to Haiti starting in the 1980’s. Anyone who knew Jim well will remember his ability to find the best eating spots, including Friday night fish. Jim faithfully served his Lord and Savior and his prayer was for all to give their heart to Jesus.