James R. "Red" Cookingham, age 93, a resident of Brookdale Glen Ellyn, passed away on Tuesday, August 19, 2025.  He was born March 20, 1932 in Chicago, IL to William & Anne Cookingham.

"Red" attended DePaul High School in Chicago.  He then went on to get his Civil Engineering degree from Illinois Institute of Technology.  He served in the Army for two years, one year stationed in Germany.  While working at Nicor Gas, he went back to school to Loyola University for his Masters Degree in Business Administration.  A devout Catholic, he was very active at Visitation Parish in Elmhurst and later a member of the St. James Parish in Glen Ellyn .

He is survived by his wife of 70 years Jean; his children Marjorie (Michael) Placzek, Patricia (Gerard) Stratelak, Michael (Karen) Cookingham and Kathleen (Charles) Thomas; his grandchildren: Stephanie (Brad) Saverino, Christopher (Carly) Placzek, Rebecca (Alex) Jimenez; Marisa (Momo) Traore; Mitchell (Katy) Stratelak; Jessica Cookingham, Nicholas Cookingham; Adam Thomas, Jeremy Thomas, Samuel Thomas & Hannah Thomas; his eight great-grandchildren; and his sister Marilyn (the late Gene) Schram.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

A visitation will be held on Monday, August 25, 2025 from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Funeral Tuesday, August 26, 2025, 10:15 a.m. from Hultgren Funeral Home, 304 N. Main St., Wheaton, IL 60187, to St. James the Apostle Church in Glen Ellyn for mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment with military honors will follow at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood, Illinois.

Memorial gifts may be directed to a charity of your choice.

Family and friends may sign a guest book at hultgrenfh.com. For more information, please call Hultgren Funeral Home at 630-668-0027.