Jim Began

James “Jim” D. Began, 81, of Marengo, Ill., and Mesa, Ariz., stepfather of Iolan Jim Rausch, died Saturday, July 2, 2011, in Mesa.
He was born July 24, 1929, in Effingham, Ill., to Gerald and Gertrude Began. On Nov. 24, 1954, he married Margaret (Peggy) J. Delabar from St. Louis, Mo. Peggy preceded Jim in death Nov. 16, 1992.
After studying at Illinois State University, Began received a master’s degree in business administration in June 1951. He joined the U.S. Air Force that same year and served for four years before being honorably discharged. He also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserves and was honorably discharged with the rank of major.
He taught high school in St. Genevieve for 11 years before moving to Crystal Lake, Ill., with his family. He taught for one year at Cary Grove High School and then moved into the role of audio visual director for High School District 155 from 1967 to 1988.
After retiring from District 155 and death of his first wife, Began and Darlene Rausch were married in Marengo, Ill., on May 26, 1996. The couple spent their married life living in both Marengo and Mesa.
He enjoyed reading books, such as biographies, history and other non-fiction materials. He was a licensed ham radio operator for many years. He was also a lifelong St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan.
He is survived by his wife, Darlene; his six children, Dan Began and his wife, Karen, Paddock Lake, Wisc., Kevin Began and his wife, Holly, Stevens, Pa., Tim Began and his wife, Sharon, West Chester, Pa., Pam Wyman and her husband, Bob, Crystal Lake, Ill., Eileen Walsh and her husband, Dick, Lake in the Hills, Ill., and Keith Began and his wife, Cindi, Hudson, Wisc.; his three stepchildren, Cathy Dixon and her husbabnd, Don, Spokane, Wash., Jack Rausch and his wife, Kathy, Marengo; and Pastor Jim Rausch and his wife, Chris, Iola; 11 grandchildren and stepgrandchildren and two great-grandchildren; his brother, Tom Began and his wife, Ann, Effingham, Ill; and sister-in-law, Mary Began, Fond du Lac, Wisc; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by four brothers and a grandson.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Aug. 27 at Willow Creek Crystal Lake. Visitation is planned for Aug. 26 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Skaja-Bachmann Funeral Home in Crystal Lake. A reception in Marenga will follow the memorial service.
Memorials may be made to the Mesa Fire Department, Attention Station 6, P.O. Box 1466, Mesa, AZ 85211; or to Banner Heart Hospital, c/o Banner Health Foundation, 2025 N. Third St., Suite 205, Phoenix, AZ 85004.