James Joseph Kallal | 86 | Huntington Beach, CA

James Joseph Kallal, Lt. Commander U.S. Navy (Ret) passed away peacefully at his home in Huntington Beach, California on Feb. 9, 2022 at the age of 86.
Jim, born in Highland, Illinois on Dec. 12, 1935, was the first child of Victor and Catherine Kallal, now deceased, who were long time residents of Greenville — 1939-2013. He was the first Grandchild of both Grandparents: Joseph and Teresa Kallal and James and Florence Murphy both long time residents of Jerseyville, Illinois. Jim and his seven siblings all attended Greenville schools from Inglis Elementary through High School. Jim was active in sports; excelled academically; and was named Best Citizen his senior year in High School. As the son of a “farm boy” Jim was no stranger to work and became a familiar face around Greenville delivering papers, mowing lawns, bucking hay bales, caddying at the Country Club, and serving as an Altar Boy at St. Lawrence Catholic Church where the family were parishioners for nearly 75 years.
After High School Jim attended the University of Notre Dame and in his second year was awarded a Navy ROTC scholarship to complete his education. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1958 with a BS in Electrical Engineering and was commissioned as an Ensign in the U.S. Navy. Over his 20 year Navy career Jim served in a variety of duties — both aboard ship and on shore. These included being the Electrical Officer on the (then) new aircraft carrier USS Ranger; the Weapons Officer on the guided missile destroyer USS Richard E. Byrd; and the Executive Officer on the destroyer USS Turner Joy — which was deployed to provide gunfire support to US infantry in Vietnam during 1969-70. Jim’s education continued with the Navy and he graduated from the Navy Post Graduate School in Monterey California with a BS in Electronics Engineering. He also earned a MS in systems management from the University of Southern California while serving with the USAF Space and Missile Systems Office during the late 70’s. Jim retired from the Navy in 1978 and pursued his ‘civilian’ career with the aerospace division of McDonnell Douglas in weapons system development and as manufacturing manager for McDonnell Douglas Electronics Company, retiring in 1997.
Jim married his ‘lady’ Stephany Gail Sprague while at the Navy Postgraduate School on Dec. 22, 1962. They were married by U. S. Navy Chaplain John J. O’Connor — who subsequently became Cardinal O’Connor of New York.
Jim and Stephany lived in a variety of locations during their early years in the Navy together, then settled in Huntington Beach California in 1974. They have two sons; David Michael and Daniel Joseph.
During retirement Jim and Stephany enjoyed traveling the breadth of North America in their 5th wheeler — staying off the freeways and enjoying the beauty of ‘back roads’ America.  Jim became a Slavic history ‘buff’ and over time committed to writing a Kallal/Kalal (the original Czech spelling) family history. His tireless work (along with Cousin Robert Kallal) resulted in the publication in 2000 of Kalal Family History 1699-1999 documenting all the descendants of the family from the “forefather’ born in Bohemia circa 1645; through the arrival of Frantisek Kalal in New Orleans in 1853; and the subsequent 1584 descendants of Frantisek through 1999. What a gift Jim and Bob gave to all of us!
Jim is survived by (spouse): wife Stephany; sons, Daniel (Becky) and their daughter Josie of San Luis Obispo, California and David and his daughter Bailey of San Luis Obispo, California; siblings, Pat (Linda) of Bend, Oregon, Tom (Ellie) of Scottsdale, Arizona, Charlotte (Roger) Sugg of Oak Park, Illinois, Kathleen Sullivan of Greenville, Illinois and Barbara Jo (Tom) Grace of Kenosha, Wisconsin; daughter in law Kirstin Kallal of Whitefish, Montana; sisters in law, Judy (Will) Kallal of Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jean Boyden (Jack) of Indiana, Pennsylvania, and Debbie Smith (Jack) of Martinsville, Indiana. Jim was preceded in death by: his parents, Victor and Catherine; brothers, Jack and Will; and brother in law, Roger Sugg.
Services will be held at St. Vincent DePaul Catholic Church on Friday, March 4 at 11 a.m. and will be streamed live on/at https://youtu.be/moFgr1jOXoc
and be available later at the same link.
In lieu of flowers or other remembrances the family request a donation to your local Church or Veterans group be made in Jim’s memory.