Jim DeBlois

Jim DeBlois, 67, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, June 13, 2011, at Vail Valley Medical Center in Vail, Colo.

He was born Nov. 8, 1943, in Chicago, to Robert and Amy Crumlish DeBlois. He married Renate Nazarenus on May 19, 2001.

Jim was a devoted, kind and loving husband, father and grandfather. His passion for cycling and the outdoors fulfilled his adventurous spirit throughout his days. He cared greatly for the well being and education of others, and was always willing to lend a helping hand.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church, Velo Girardeau Bicycle Club, MoBikeFed, Ultra Marathon Cycling Association, Randonneurs USA and the American Society of Civil Engineers. He was an avid cyclist and chess player.

Jim graduated from the Illinois Institute of Technology with a bachelor of science in civil engineering in 1968, and a master of science in civil engineering in 1974. He was a registered professional engineer in the states of Missouri and Illinois.

He began his career in 1968 working for The Allen & Garcia Co. in Chicago and also worked several other places, Scheible & Associates and Sargent & Lundy, just to name a few. In 1995 he started working for Frucon Engineering, eventually moving to Cape Girardeau where he was the p.e. of record for numerous projects at Procter & Gamble. Jim trained and mentored a great number of engineers and designers throughout his career.

Survivors include his wife Renate of Cape Girardeau; three daughters, Hillary (Tom) Belmont of McHenry, Ill., Brenda (Dale) Larson of Eagan, Minn., Josephine Clay of Cape Girardeau; two stepsons, Dennis Clay of Columbia, Mo., Benjamin Clay of Minneapolis; a brother, David (Valerie) DeBlois of Boston; four grandchildren, Sammy and Ellie Larson and Hannah and Gretchen Clay; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Connie Boris.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday at Crain Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau, and from 9 a.m. until service time Tuesday at Trinity Lutheran Church.

The funeral will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday at the church, with Douglas Breite officiating. Interment will be in Fairmount Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to Trinity Lutheran School Building Fund or Missouri Bicycle Federation.

To leave online condolences, please visit www.crainsonline.com.