James Walter Rouland, 75, of Glenarm, Illinois, passed away on March 8, 2026 with family by his side after a long 3-year battle with leukemia.

James was born on December 24, 1950, in Springfield, IL, the son of Harold and Vivian (Holmes) Rouland, who were loving devoted parents. James met his wife, Janet on a blind date on May 15, 1970, and married in September of 1972, in Springfield, IL.

James attended Feitshans High School in Springfield, IL and moved to the brand new Southeast High School as a member of the first graduating class in 1968. He wrestled on varsity and worked hard to become one of the top wrestlers in Illinois for his weight class. James attended Illinois State University and graduated with a degree in industrial technology with a minor in business. He was drafted and joined the Air National Guard 183rd Fighter Wing in November of 1972. He eventually made this his full time work which he enjoyed. He worked on F-4 weapons control systems and F-16 avionics. He traveled on many missions with the 183rd, including Kuwait, Qatar, England, Italy, Iraq, Panama, Canada, Denmark, Poland, and all over the United States, including Colorado, Alaska, Utah, Arizona, and Florida to name a few. He retired as a Senior Master Sergeant in 2009 and always admitted his favorite job was working on the planes and not the paperwork.

Everyone who knew Jim, knew he was an avid golfer. He even spent time with his golf buddies in the golf cart when he was too weak to golf. Jim also enjoyed the outdoors. He enjoyed camping trips, canoeing, fishing, hiking, boating, bird watching, reading, gardening, raising chickens, helping farmers, and identifying trees.

What carried Jim was his faith in God. He attended South Fork church for over 46 years and contributed by helping out with the youth, running the sound system for the church services, and mowing the grass. He enjoyed traveling with his family and later with his grandchildren to many places. He traveled with his wife to see Pearl Harbor in Hawaii, the Northern Lights in Norway, the sites of Rome, cruising in the Caribbean, as well as many other places. He was persistent to plan a family vacation with Janet and his kids each year no matter how busy the year was. He and Janet took their kids to see the Red Woods, the Freedom Trail in Boston, Gettysburg, the Rockies, New York City, Niagara Falls, Grand Cayman, and the beaches and sights in Florida countless times. They also enjoyed taking their grandchildren to see the House on the Rock in Wisconsin, the John Deere Museum, Branson, Missouri, and the inside of caves. By the time the grandkids came along, Jim & Jan were both retired and loved having the kids at their house: building gingerbread houses, fishing, playing games, reading books, taking apart lawnmowers and microwaves, and swimming for hours.

James was preceded in death by his parents.

James is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janet (Jones); children Jonathan Rouland of Laguna Hills, California; Jill Rouland (Azael Ramirez) of Springfield, IL and 3 beloved grandchildren; Joel, Mateo, and Christopher Ramirez as well as his younger sister, Linda Horn (Jim Werner) of Punta Gorda, FL, aunts, uncles, nephews, nieces, and cousins. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention some of his closest friends from elementary school, high school and college who rallied alongside him and gave him encouragement, adventure, and friendship for a lifetime, as well as to the many friends along the way that traveled with him on family trips, golfed with him, visited with him, and spent New Year’s Eve with him.

A special thanks to his long-time friends Rich Eggleston and Jim & Sue Wagy.

Rich, who helped mow the grass, took him to multiple trips to get blood, watched many Illini basketball games with him, as well as the entire series of The Chosen, conversed with him for hours, and drove him to appointments at Barnes in St. Louis.

Jim & Sue Wagy, who graciously hosted Janet in St. Louis, giving her rides back and forth to visit James at Barnes during his many treatments there in his long fight with leukemia which provided much emotional support to her and James during those trying times.

Visitation will be held from 9:00am to 10:30am on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at South Fork Church, 7898 Johnson Rd, Rochester, IL 62563, followed by a funeral service at 10:30am. A dinner for family and friends will be hosted at South Fork at 2:00pm following the burial and Military Honors at Camp Butler National Cemetery at 1:00pm.

Memorial contributions may be made to: South Fork Church. 7898 Johnson Rd, Rochester, IL 62563.

LINK: https://southforkchurch.breezechms.com/give/online