James Bruno Risatti, Jr., born to Zoila and James Bruno Risatti, Sr. on May 8, 1942 in Blue Island, Illinois, beloved husband of Leslie (Cahill), extraordinary father of Carrie and Gabriella (Sean Mills), devoted grandfather of Dylan James Mills, loving brother of Howard (Christina), Connie Zenz (James) and William (Celeste).

A Funeral Mass is being held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, August 31, 2013 at St. Patrick Catholic Church, 708 W. Main St. Urbana.

A Funeral Wake will be held from 4:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friday, August 30, 2013 at Renner- Wikoff Chapel & Crematory, 1900 S. Philo Rd., Urbana.

Jim grew up in Pullman, Illinois and graduated from Mendel High School. Jim studied English and Medieval History at Creighton University and the University of Illinois at Navy Pier, where he played football, earning a Bachelor's degree from the University of Illinois. Jim married Leslie Ann Cahill in 1967 and they made their first home in Starkville, Mississippi where Jim earned a Masters of Science in Paleontology from Mississippi State University. Jim and Leslie made their permanent home in Urbana, Illinois where Jim earned a PhD in Geochemistry from the University of Illinois. Jim joined the Illinois State Geological Survey as a Geochemist in the Organic Geochemistry Section and spent his career there studying the presence of PCB's and PCB degradation in groundwater. He applied his research to various pollution remediation projects including the Hudson River Dredging Project and was invited to present his research at the Gordon Conference. Jim retired from the Geological Survey as the Section Head of the Organic Geochemistry Section in 2006. Jim was also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University and Indiana University.

Jim had many interests beyond science. He loved to cook, he had a great interest in sailing, classical music, literature, poetry and the visual arts. Above all, Jim loved life and he loved people.

Jim passed suddenly on Saturday August 24th in Lake City, Co.

Donations may be made to the Alzheimer's Research Foundation, The Nature Conservancy or the St. Patrick's Church Building Fund.