Chicago Tribune11%
Jim Hinterlong Obituary - Grand Ridge, IL (1941-2026) 37%
By Chicago Tribune5%
7/22/2026, 5:05:00 AM
Topics: Biography, Death Notices
Keywords: Jim Hinterlong, Obituaries
BS Summary: This article contains 11 faulty reasoning types, including Appeal to Emotion, Halo Effect, and Availability Heuristic, with Biased Writer Voice as the most egregious example at 21.4% saturation with 145 hits. Analysis detected 458 faulty-reasoning hits from 679 analyzed words, generating a BS Score of 43.7% and a BS Rank of 37% (13,359 of 21,165 articles). This article is better (less manipulative) than 63.10% of the article peer group.
Jim Hinterlong, a resident of Grand Ridge, IL, died peacefully on July 18, 2026 after several days surrounded by family and talking with friends.
A fantastic gardener, he was most happy when he got the edge over the rabbits and harvested enough to share with family, friends and especially the food pantry, including over 50 bushels of produce last year.
A proud puzzler, he loved crosswords, Wordle, and any opportunity to share a pun – good or bad.
He loved being a part of things and helping to build strong communities.
Born August 3, 1941 and raised in Naperville, IL, he was the son of Ed and Nancy (Koretke) and brother to Anne and G.
Robert.
He was a lifelong Catholic, a one-time altar boy and paper boy, who played sports because they taught you something about yourself and being part of a team.
That made him a great coach, Little League Commissioner, volunteer fireman, loyal Bears fan, and elbowy lunchtime basketball player at the Ottawa YMCA.
He loved learning – a passion that enabled him to learn Marathi while serving as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Kolhapur, India (‘66-’68), pick up some Russian along the way, hike the Himalayas, pose as an A.B. on the S.S.
President Harrison to get home, finish law school and pass the Illinois Bar.
From there he worked as LaSalle County States Attorney and as a lawyer in private practice for over 50 years.
He combined those passions in his part-time teaching for nearly 40 years at IVCC and its programs in local high schools and correctional facilities.
He loved service.
It is impossible to list every place and cause that mattered to him.
He was grateful to spend a quarter century on the Board of the Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley, including eight years as president.
He served on boards of the Streator YMCA and Marquette High School, and was a proud member of the Democratic Party, and Knights of Columbus.
Most recently he was elected as Supervisor of Farm Ridge Township, and took that role as seriously as any he ever held, including president of the Grand Ridge Community Council when they created the village’s park.
And he knew things.
So many things.
He was curious, incredibly smart, and eager to engage you in a debate … about anything, whether at JRs, whiskey club, or from his golf cart.
If he couldn’t draw you in that way, he’d regale you with stories.
Nearly all of them true, even on the umpteenth retelling.
But that wouldn’t surprise anyone who knew him, because he was deeply consistent and principled.
A man of faithful commitment to what he believed in.
He was selflessly committed to his family, who were important to him beyond anything else in this life.
He pursued a raven-haired Brooklyn beauty, Anne McDonnell, across years and oceans until marrying her in April of 1969.
Together they brought three children into the world who inherited his compassion and persistence, and found remarkable partners of their own, Jim (Valerie) of Urbana, IL, Rebecca (Matt, Blake, Maddie) of Oxford, IN, Ellen (Scott) of Traverse City, MI.
Their grandchildren followed the same path, Daniel (Pepper) of Richmond, VA, and Sara (Maya) of Manhattan, NY.
Best of all, he lived fully until his final moments sharing stories, telling jokes, reaching out to those who mattered most to him, and enjoying a pineapple malt, macadamia nut cookie and a radish.
He was sad to leave this life but had a good death.
And he most certainly was a good guy.
All are welcome to celebrate Jim with his family at the Farm Ridge Township Office in Grand Ridge on Saturday, August 1st from 3-6 p.m.
It will be a casual gathering for stories – real or otherwise – and a few snacks.
Those wishing to make the world a little better as he tried are invited to make a gift to the Community Food Basket of Ottawa, Grand Ridge Fire Department, or Youth Service Bureau of Illinois Valley.
Speakers
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