James McLean Casey, 92, of Rock Island peacefully passed away on Wednesday June 14th, 2023 surrounded by his loving family at Friendship Manor's Silver Cross nursing home.

Jim was born October 21, 1930, at St. John's Hospital in Springfield, Illinois. He was the son of James Thomas Casey and Lola McLean Casey. At an early age, his family moved to Rock Island, Illinois. He attended Catholic Schools in Rock Island, graduating from St. Joseph's High School as a member of its last class in 1949. During his high school years, Jim lettered in football, baseball and basketball as well as excelling academically. He married Beverly Bartlett in Rock Island on September 4, 1971.

He attended St. Ambrose College and the Moline Institute of Commerce. He was hired as a Premium Auditor on August 20, 1956, by Bituminous Insurance Companies. After transferring to the Accounting Department, he was appointed the Corporate Controller. Jim was later elected to the position of Corporate Secretary, an office he held until his retirement on December 31, 1996. He was a member of the Bituminous 20 Year Club and the Bituminous Retirees Group.

Jim had been an Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist at St. Pius X Church since 1981. After his retirement in 1996, he visited the sick and brought them communion. He also served three terms on the Church's Parish Council. At the request of the Council, he formed the St. Vincent de Paul Society of St. Pius X which operates the Church's food pantry. He served as an officer of St. Vincent de Paul and worked at the food pantry. He and Beverly were speakers on the Diocese's Pre-Cana Committee. In 2002, he was awarded the Pere Marquette medallion by the Bishop of the Peoria Diocese.

He was a faithful member of the Knights of Columbus, Allouez Council 658 in Rock Island for 65 years and the Father Bader Assembly 1922 for 63 years. He was a Past Grand Knight and Past Financial Secretary of the Council and served on the Honor Guard of the Assembly as well as holding the offices of Faithful Navigator and Faithful Comptroller. Jim was also elected the first President of the Allouez Holding Corporation which built the K of C Hall in Rock Island. He was named a "Knight of Knights" by the Peoria Diocese Chapter of the Knights of Columbus in 1996. In 2009, he was named the Illinois State Knight of the Year. In 2014, he received the "Master's Medallion" from the Master of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus.

He served on several committees of the Rock Island Chamber of Commerce. He was a long-time member of the Rock Island Noon Kiwanis Club, serving as President in 1989. He also served on the Finance Committee of the National Workers Compensation Reinsurance Pool and was the Chairman for the 1985 and 1986 years. He earned a Certificate in General Insurance from the Insurance Institute of America. He served three years in the Illinois National Guard during the Korean War, attaining the rank of corporal. He was an avid fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Notre Dame football. He enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren when they participated in sports or other events. He enjoyed working crossword puzzles and reading the morning newspaper.

He is survived by his loving wife Beverly, his son Brian (Jennifer) and daughters Anna Casey-Crouch (Matt) and Kathleen Hanna (Tim) and Nephew Chuck Mesick (Sheila). His grandchildren, Sean and McLean Casey and Eliza, Lillian and James Hanna, were a great source of Jim's pride and joy. They were his sunshine. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Lola Casey and a sister, Anna.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, June 20th, 2023 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 pm on Monday, June 19th at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, Rock Island, with a rosary to be recited at 3:00 pm and the Father Edward J. Bader Assembly Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus Chalice Presentation at 3:30 pm. Entombment will be in Calvary Cemetery, Rock Island. Memorials may be made to Allouez Council, Knights of Columbus or the St. Vincent DePaul Society Food Pantry.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.wheelanpressly.com.