James “Jim” Peter Gochis, born December 19, 1937, fell asleep in the Lord November 22, 2022.
Beloved husband of Betty Gochis nee Apostol for 56 years.
Loving father of Peter (Lynn) Gochis and Alyssa (Steve) Sinclair.
Devoted son of the late Peter and Asemo Gochis.
Proud grandfather “Pappou” of Jordyn and James Gochis, Stephen, Collin and Sophia Sinclair and Amber, Ashley, and Emery LaBee.
Fond uncle and cousin of many.
Brother-in-law of Evangelene Poulos, Louis (Alexandra) Apostol and William (Jeanne) Apostol.
Jim was a “never missed a kid or grandkids game” type Dad, always cheering from the sidelines or stands. Lifetime Bears, Cubs, Bulls and Grandkids sports fan. Anyone who knows Jim knows if he wasn’t playing sports he was watching sports.
He was a graduate of Carroll College in Wisconsin where he played college basketball. He was drafted to serve in the Army and played baseball and traveled all over Europe.
A proud bowling proprietor of Sunset Bowl in Waukegan and Fair Haven Lanes in Mundelein, he was a PBA member and joined the elite 50 year club at the 2017 USBC open championship in Las Vegas. A few quotes from him during the ceremony were “I got choked up and it was very hard to hold back the emotions and tears,” “The book on me is all about persistence and once I start something I just keep on going until it’s done,” and “I have been an athlete all my life. Bowling was, for me, something that still was there when I couldn’t do the other sports.” He bowled on the Senior Tour, was inducted into the Chicago, Lake County and Illinois Hall of Fames. He was a member of the Bowling Proprietors Association of America and Illinois.
His five B’s were Betty, Baseball, Basketball, Bowling and then Babies and, later in life, Golf. He cherished his time with his wife, children and grandchildren. The three loves of his life were Betty, his family and his sports world.
Visitation Thursday, December 1, 2022 from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM at N. H. Scott & Hanekamp Funeral Home, 1240 Waukegan Road, Glenview, IL 60025.
Funeral Service Friday, December 2, 2022, 10:30 AM at Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church, 133 South Roselle Road, Palatine, IL 60067. Entombment to follow at All Saints Cemetery, Des Plaines IL.
In lieu of flowers memorial donations to Saint Nectarios Greek Orthodox Church or Wounded Warriors P.O. Box 758516, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8516 would be appreciated.
Arrangements by Memory Eternal Funeral Directors, Ltd. (847) 375-0095.
May his memory be eternal.