James Brooks Kinzer, age 92 - husband of the late Vaida; responsible and caring father of his children Jamie of Los Angeles; James Brooks (Margaret Morris), a Circuit Court judge in Watseka, Illinois; John Byron (Mary Kate Tobin), a physician in Lake Forest, Illinois; and twins Margaret Kirk (John Meyers) of Philadelphia, and Janet Deering (Alan Abrams), a librarian at the Library of Congress - passed away peacefully on Friday, September 2.

Born on July 10, 1924 in Roaring Spring, Pennsylvania, to James "Brooks" Kinzer and Lillian Williams, Jim is best remembered as intelligent, resourceful, and truly one-of-a kind, not to mention a "character" by those who knew him well. His final years were spent in Lake Bluff where he became known simply as "granddad" to his family and the community. Jim could often be seen whipping around in his motor scooter at the age of 85. An adventurist, Jim's best known phrase, "Ain't life grand," was indicative of his enthusiastic love and curiosity for the natural world.

A decorated war hero in WWII, First Lieutenant James B. Kinzer completed 32 combat missions in the European theater as a lead navigator in a B-17 during the spring and summer of 1944, including a bombing raid over Normandy on D-Day. Returning to civilian life after the war, Jim utilized the GI Bill to finish his degree in Mechanical Engineering at Penn State University, continuing on to law school at George Washington University.

At Penn State, Jim met his future wife, Vaida Riggs, and married her in 1949. Upon graduation from law school, Jim was hired by the Chicago patent law firm of George Wallace. In 1951, Jim came to Chicago with a new wife, an even newer baby, an Old Buick, and $500 in cash to begin a long and successful career as a lawyer. Under his guidance, the law firm grew and changed over time, eventually becoming Kinzer, Plyer, Dorn, McEachran & Jambor. Jim retired in 1994.

Jim is survived by all five of his children, and seven grandchildren: James Brooks Kinzer IV, Charles Field Kinzer, Kathleen Page Kinzer, John Byron Kinzer, Thomas Kirk Kinzer, Madeleine Louise Meyers and Flynn Williams Meyers. Jim is also survived by his two great-granddaughters: Hannah and Naomi. Stories of "granddad" - at times bordering on the absurd, hilarious, and unforgettable- will more than carry on his legacy. A memorial service will be held in Roaring Spring, PA, in October.