James Goodwin
Alton | Save
James L. Goodwin of Alton Illinois passed away on May 25, 2017. Born January 17, 1928 in Jackson, Missouri, the second son of Robert Bryce and Marguerite Bowman Goodwin, he graduated in the class of 1946 at Western Military Academy in Alton and from Southeast Missouri State College in Cape Girardeau, Mo. in 1950. Jim was married to Mary Ernest Clack in 1950, the same year in which he enlisted in the United States Air Force. He served for four years in San Antonio, Tex. as a language instructor until his discharge in 1953. In 1955 he returned to Alton to teach, coach and direct the athletic program at Western.
Jim spent the majority of his career in industrial relations at Laclede Steel Company and became deeply involved in the Alton community.
Jim served as board member of the YMCA and Specialized Services Program for the Handicapped. He served as long time board member of the Madison County chapter of the Urban League. He was an original board member of the United Methodist Village. Goodwin also chaired the civic leaders group who advised the Corps of Engineers on the design and development of the Visitor’s Center at Lock and Dam 26.
He was a member of the Alton Memorial Hospital Board of Directors for 30 years; chairman of the hospital board for ten years including overseeing the affiliation of Alton Memorial with Barnes, Jewish, Christian Health Systems (BJC). Jim served on the Alton Park and Recreation Commission from 1970 to 1980 and was instrumental in the development of Gordon F. Moore Community Park. He later shepherded the development of the Spencer T. Olin Community Golf Course. While on the Parks and Recreation Commission Jim was responsible for oversight of the operation and maintenance of the city’s golf courses, the city’s memorial tree program and its nationally acclaimed street trees program. He served as a charter board member of Pride, Inc. In 2010 he received the Alton-Godfrey Rotary Club’s Gordon F. Moore Service Above Self Award for distinguished service to the community.
Jim was an avid golfer and gardener, a voracious reader, a lover of history and an artful conversationalist. His family and friends will miss his lifelong curiosity, fundamental integrity, dry and timely sense of humor and tremendous dedication to his family, friends and community.
Jim Goodwin is survived by his three children, Lee Goodwin and his wife Jean of Marinette, Wis., Cathryn Goodwin and her husband George Schatz of Princeton, N.J., and Sarah Goodwin Thiel and her husband David of Lawrence, Kan.; eight grandchildren, Joshua (Melissa) Gaghen, Elijah (Abby) Gaghen, Emily (Adam) Elsey, Anna Goodwin (Matt Hartman), Laura (Justin) Seymour, Alyssa Thiel, Rachel Schatz and Charlie Thiel; six great grandchildren, Grace and Lily Gaghen, Ellasyn and Will Gaghen, Austin Seymour and Abram Elsey; and one brother, Lane Goodwin of LaCrosse, Wis.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife of sixty years, Mary Goodwin, and his older brother, Robert Bryce Goodwin, II.
A memorial service will be held at 11am on Monday, July 17, 2017 at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 1211 W. Homer Adams Parkway in Godfrey, with the Rev. Kenneth Tegtmeier presiding. A reception at the church for friends and family will be held prior to the service from 9 – 11am.
In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Resurrection Lutheran Church, Alton Memorial Health Services Foundation, or Pride, Inc. in support of the Gordon Moore Park restoration.
Condolences may be found online at www.eliaskallalandschaaf.com
Elias, Kallal & Schaaf Funeral Home
