James M. Barbeau, Sr., C.H.A.

PORTAGE –  James M. Barbeau, Sr., C.H.A., age 61, of Portage, passed away on Sunday, January 23, 2011 at his home.

Jim was born on September 6, 1949 in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Wilfred and Margaret (Steinhausen) Barbeau.  He graduated with honors from DePauw University, and did graduate work at Indiana University.  Jim was married on January 15, 1972 to Lynn Forester.  He had been a member of the Wisconsin Dells Tourism Bureau, the Board of Directors of the Illinois Restaurant Association and S.T.E.P. Dinners, the Board of Directors of the Illinois Hotel-Motel Association, and the Board of Regents of the American Hotel-Motel Association.  Jim had been President of the Mundelein-Libertyville Chamber of Commerce, and President of the Mundelein Rotary Club.  He was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage.  Jim was a loving husband, father and grandfather, and he was ethical, honest, strong and solid.

He is survived by his wife, Lynn;  three children, James Michael Barbeau, Jr. (Heidi Tolman), Aimee (Vitaliy) Barbeau, and Elizabeth Barbeau, all of Minneapolis, MN;  his grandson, Jackson Tolman-Barbeau;  his brothers and sisters, Ruth Kennedy, Indiana, Scott (Sandy) Barbeau, Florida, Steve Barbeau, Patty (Jerry) Bevington, Indiana, Denise Barbeau, Michelle Barbeau, and T. J. Barbeau;  other near relatives and many close friends.  He was preceded in death by his parents and a son in infancy. 

Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, January 27, 2011 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage, with Fr. Jim Murphy presiding.  Inurnment will be private.  Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 26, 2011 at the Pflanz Mantey Mendrala Funeral Home in Portage, and on Thursday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mary Catholic Church in Portage, or for Pancreatic Cancer Research.