Jim Kraakevik passed away at his home in Carol Stream, IL on Thursday, September 26; he was 79.

Jim was born in Chicago on February 18, 1928 to Henry and Mabel (Sandin) Kraakevik. He excelled in his studies and music, graduating from Lane Tech at age sixteen as first-chair violinist and an accomplished soloist.

Jim completed his B.S. degree in physics with high honors at Wheaton College in three years. While still a teenager Jim headlined his own weekly musical radio show on station WMBI in Chicago. Jim met Marilyn Morrison while performing at Midwest Bible Church. "Lynn" was a spirited teenager and gifted pianist, the love of his life; they married in 1950.

Jim joined the U. S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D. C. as an atmospheric physicist. One challenge was devising scientific equipment robust enough to survive supersonic re-entry and impact in the nose cone of Wernher von Braun's V-2 rockets at White Sands, NM.

After Jim completed his doctorate he joined the faculty at Wheaton College where he was a popular but demanding professor for many years. He revised the college's pre-med curriculum in later years that established a high success rate for aspiring physicians.

In 1964 Jim, Lynn and the five boys moved to Nigeria, West Africa where Jim taught physics and Lynn English at Titcombe College. A year or so later Jim took over as principal of Titcombe. He was later appointed Education Secretary for all of Sudan Interior Mission's primary and secondary schools in Nigeria, where he influenced the lives of many future doctors, engineers, diplomats and clergymen.

In 1970 Lynn's health prompted a return to Wheaton, with Jim resuming chairmanship of the physics department at the college. In 1981 Jim and Lynn moved to Verona, NJ where he served as International Director for SIM. They returned to Wheaton College in 1984 with Jim taking over as Director of the Billy Graham Center. Jim and Lynn moved to Windsor Parkin Carol Stream in 2004.

After Lynn passed away in April, 2005 Jim became actively involved in establishing Bingham University, a multi-discipline institution to be based in Abuja, Nigeria. In late May 2006 Jim suffered a stroke in Jos, Nigeria and was flown to Johannesburg, South Africa for convalescence. After rehabilitation at Marianjoy Jim returned to his in Carol Stream.

Jim is survived by his five sons, Timothy (Ruth) of Glen Ellyn, Thomas (Cindy) of St. Charles, John Mark (Sheri) of Wheaton, Stephen (Kristen) of Scottsdale, AZ, and Joel (Joni) of Suwannee, GA, and 11 grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Doris Kraakevik Morrison, and her husband Hugh, Lynn's brother.

Visitation will be held on Friday, October 5, from 3 to 8 p.m. at Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St. in Wheaton.

A funeral service will be held on Saturday, October 6 at 10:00 a.m. at Wheaton Bible Church, Main and Franklin St. in Wheaton. Interment will be held at Ridgewood Cemetery in DesPlaines.

Memorials may be directed to SIM USA, P.O. Box 7900, Charlotte, NC, 28241-7900, or to Wheaton College, 501 College Avenue, Wheaton, IL 60187.