James J. Aitken, 88, of Rock Island, died Saturday, July 8, 2017 at his home.  A funeral service will be 11 a.m. Tuesday at Edgewood Baptist Church, Rock Island.  Visitation will be from 10-11 a.m. Tuesday at the church.  Burial will be at Rock Island National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be conducted.  Memorials may be made in care of the Disabled American Veterans or the Honor Flight of the Quad Cities. Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island, is assisting the family.

James was born in Rock Island on March 11, 1929, son of James C. Aitken and Ester M. Kratzer Aitken.  He married Helen Mullens on February 4, 1967 in Rock Island. James retired from the U.S. Army after 37 years, serving during WWII and the Korean War. When James wasn't off serving his country, his second profession was an electronics technician during the course of his lifetime.

James was a member of Edgewood Baptist Church, Rock Island, and the Moline American Legion Post 246.  He enjoyed working on all things electronic and playing the piano, keyboard, and guitar but, after five minutes in conversation, you knew his true passion was the military.

Those left to cherish his  memory include his wife, Helen Aitken, Rock Island; children (and spouses), James Aitken Jr., East Moline, Russell (Evah) McClay, Milan, Sheri (Robert) Luckenbihl, East Moline, Thomas (Mary) Aitken, East Moline, Victoria Jeffers, Rock Island, Bruce McClay, Rock Island, and Susanne (Thomas) Parker, Milledgeville; eleven grandchildren; forty-one great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters, Margarete Eckhardt and Agnes Brandle, and a daughter-in-law, Florenza McClay.