J. Mike Hall, 58, a manager for Bechtel, one of the world’s largest construction companies, and a former volunteer firefighter, died Thursday, June 22, in his Aurora home. Raised in Downers Grove, Mr. Hall graduated from Joliet Catholic High School in 1960, where he played defense on the football team. “He got a kick out of telling people his claim to fame was that in high school he played against Dick Butkus, who also grew up in the area,” said his daughter Jennifer Thorson. Mr. Hall attended Southern Illinois University in Carbondale. He worked for Bechtel in Lisle for 28 years, most recently as a procurement manager. He left the company briefly in 1997 to work for Lucent Technologies in Schaumburg. While with Bechtel, he traveled all over the United States and in the early 1980s moved to Saudi Arabia to help build an airport. “He made a lot of trips back and forth even after the airport was completed,” said his daughter. Mr. Hall was a past volunteer firefighter for Bolingbrook and Fermilab. “He loved firefighting,” said his daughter. “It was something he’d always wanted to do but didn’t feel he could make a living at.” Mr. Hall was a member of the Phoenix Club and the Joliet Catholic High School Alumni Association. He was an avid golfer and loved all sports, especially football. Mr. Hall is also survived by a brother, Theodore; and three sisters, Marie, Frances Bailey and Catherine Remy. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 p.m. Tuesday in Daleiden Lake Street Mortuary, 220 N. Lake St., Aurora. Services will begin with prayers at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the funeral home followed by mass at 10 a.m. in St. Joseph Catholic Church, 405 St. Joseph’s Ave., Aurora.
