James "Jim" L. Fortin

James “Jim” L. Fortin, age 75 years, a resident of rural Vienna, Illinois, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his wife, sister, children and grandchildren on the morning of Sunday, January 4, 2026. Jim was born April 12, 1950 at St. Mary’s Hospital in Kankakee, Illinois. He grew up in Manteno, Illinois and attended Manteno High School. Jim has always worked for the State of Illinois., starting through the highway department. Then, he moved north of Waukegan, Illinois where he was employed at Kiley Developmental Center, where he was employed as a maintenance engineer. While working at the Kiley Developmental Center, Jim met the love of his life, Sharon. They have been married for 48 years. Together, they resided in Round Lake Park, Illinois and later in Ingleside, Illinois. In 1995, Jim accepted a job transfer to the Choate Developmental Center where he worked in the power plant. This move brought them to Southern Illinois. Jim was employed as a stationary engineer at the Choate Developmental Center until his retirement. Anyone who knew Jim knows how much he loved anything outside. From his hobby farm, to hunting and fishing, to even just sitting in his pole barn on his favorite stool. He also enjoyed his 4-wheeler and, along with Sharon, going on side-by-side trips with their good friends and family. He enjoyed any type of woodworking and being able to build just about anything. He also enjoyed running to town earlier in the mornings to meet up with friends at McDonald’s for coffee or ice tea. He always looked forward to his nightly 4-wheeler and side-by-side rides through his backyard woods, stopping at his favorite spots to drink a beer while taking in each view. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Leonard Fortin, his mother, Lucille (Tatro) Fortin Skibinski and his step-father, Kenneth Skibinski. He is survived by: his wife – Sharon (Devine) Fortin; daughters – Shelly (Woody) Powers and Jamie (Troy) Davis all of Vienna; Grandchildren – Kelsey Davis, Shelby Davis and Gavin Powers all of Vienna; his siblings – Mary K. Sloan of Uma, Arizona, Barbara Bowers of Simi Valley, California, Michael Fortin of Salem, Wisconsin and Janet Gandel of Simi Valley, California; as well as a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and many friends. A celebration of Jim’s life will be conducted at a later date. Memorials may be made to The American Cancer Society, 5 Schiber Port, Suite C, Maryville, Illinois 62062 or to the Hospice of Southern Illinois, 204 Halfway Road, Marion, Illinois 62959.

James "Jim" L. Fortin

April 12, 1950 - January 4, 2026