James Tuach MacKenzie, 92, of Munster, IN, passed away Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2000 at his home. He was preceded in death by his wife, Eleanor, nee Evans, in 1977; and daughter, Jane Anne (Dalman) Franson in 1997. He was born on Jan. 7, 1908 in Beauly, Scotland, the son of Roderick and Annie Tuach. At age 12, he immigrated with his family to Chicago by way of Montreal, Canada, on the S.S. Sicilian. He is survived by his son, David (Alicia) MacKenzie of Calumet City; and his daughters, Nora (Kevin) Loughlin of Crete and Judy (Billy) Holzer of Lansing; son-in-law, Dalman Franson of Crete; sister-in-law, Jane Evans of Batavia, IL; 10 grandchildren, Kristin Linke, Kevin Loughlin, Jamie Loughlin, Paula Franson, Eric Franson, Jennifer English, Scott MacKenzie, Roderick MacKenzie, Matthew Holzer and Jeremy Holzer; six great-grandchildren, Alex, Nicholas, Taryn, Kailee, Lauren and Logan; sister, Katherine Kendall of Mitchellville, Maryland; and many other relatives in the U.S. and the Highlands of Scotland. Jim attended Bowen High in South Chicago and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 1930 he was a stone carver and cutter in Bloomington, IN. He attended civilian flight instructor school in San Antonio, TX in 1943. In 1944 he graduated first in his class from the Merchant Marine Academy, Ft. Trumbull, New London, CT. IN 1945 he served aboard the U.S. American Mariner, a Maritime Service Training Ship, training Merchant Marine seamen for service in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. He spent many years in auto sales and financing. He was employed as a customer service manager at United Buying Service, for 30 years, until the age of 92. Jim was a member of the Chicago Stockyards Kilty Band as a drum major and bandleader for 35 years, was ex-governor and 40 year member of the Illinois St. Andrews Society, a 50 year member of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons of Illinois, and Director of Wicker Memorial Park Senior Golf for 12 years. Jim also acted as trustee of Bryn Mawr Community Church, Chicago, was a member of American Legion Post #168, and attended Munster Christian Reformed Church. Visitation will be Sunday afternoon from 3 to 8 p.m. at Burns-Kish Funeral Home, 8415 Calumet, Munster, IN. Funeral Services will be held at Burns-Kish Funeral Home on Monday 10 a.m., with Rev. Carolyn Scanlan officiating. He will join his true love, Eleanor, nee Evans,MacKenzie at Mount Greenwood Cemetery, 111th and California, Chicago.
