James Allen Anderson

James “Jim” Allen Anderson, 70, of Kankakee, IL passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loved ones on June 4, 2025. He was born on July 27, 1954 in Kankakee, IL to Duane and Veronica Anderson. He graduated from Eastridge High School in 1972, where he was a member of the Eastridge Chamber Choir honored with participating in a concert tour of Europe. After graduation, Jim started his own business, Anderson Mower and Small Engine Repair in Bradley. After closing up shop, he went on to spend over 34 years working at Birmingham Bolt/Nucor Steel, where he was fondly known as “Big A,” until retiring in 2022. Even in retirement, Jim stayed busy. He created his second business, Nuisance Wild Animal Control, where he enjoyed serving the community by trapping a variety of critters from bats to cats and everything in between. He married his wife of almost 37 years, Andrea (Andi) McElroy on November 12, 1988 at St. Joseph’s Church in Bradley, IL. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, always keeping the freezer stocked with venison and frequently earning a spot on the “Big Board” for the Annual Kankakee River Fishing Derby. He served as a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 319 for many years, helping younger generations to love and respect the great outdoors as much as he did. Jim was famous for his secret Mai Tai recipe and for his Annual Anderson Fish Fry, where he fed his closest friends and family with white bass he caught on his yearly fishing trip to Wisconsin. He was a man who rarely stopped moving, never stopped learning and was always willing to “take a look at” whatever might be giving you trouble. When he did take time to relax, he could be found out on the deck with a cup of coffee watching his hummingbirds or down in Mexico, playing water volleyball and euchre with friends. He was fiercely loved by those who knew him and returned that love tenfold. He is survived by his loving wife, Andi; his son, Jeremiah Anderson; his daughter and son-in-law, Jamie and Luke Hoffman, all of Kankakee, IL; his sister, Sue (Mark) Colehower of Peotone, IL; his brother, Bob (Amy) Anderson of Kankakee, IL; five sisters-in-law: Colleen (John) Devine of Bourbonnais, IL, Marci DeRosier and Steve Taden of Bradley, IL, Gail (Leo) Troy of Brigantine, NJ, Sherry Anderson of Clifton, IL, and Kathy Anderson of Bradley, IL; one brother-in-law, Richard McElroy of Champaign, IL, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death and greeted in heaven by his parents, two brothers Steve and Tim, and his son, Dan. Services will be held on Friday, 6/13/25 at Clancy-Gernon Funeral Home in Bourbonnais. Visitation will be from 3:00pm to 6:00pm with a memorial ceremony at 6:00pm followed by a celebration of life at the Casey Club inside the Knights of Columbus in Kankakee.

James Allen Anderson

July 27, 1954 - June 4, 2025