James M. Greene, 87, of Riverside, died on Nov. 3, 2016.
He was born on May 10, 1929 served in the U.S. Army in the Korean War. Mr. Greene worked as an electrician, but he devoted his life to veterans’ affairs and concerns.
He was the past commander of the Ted Knusman Amvets Post 13, past commander of the Veterans Assistance Commission of Cook County, past commander of the Combined Veterans Association of Illinois, and was a volunteer at Edward Hines Jr. Veterans Hospital for 55 years.
Mr. Greene was also past president of the St. Thomas Aquinas school board in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood, a 65- year member of Local 134 IBEW (and past shop steward), recipient of the CVA “Person of the Year” Award, recipient of the Illinois Amvets of the Year Award, recipient of four Chaplains Awards, and was awarded the Medal of Service and Valor which was presented during his visit to South Korea in 1986.
Mr. Greene is survived by his wife of 63 years, Margaret M. Greene (nee Hefferon); his children, Kathleen (John) Zydek and Mary (Ken) Mottet; his grandchild, Christopher Schultz; his great-grandchild, Tyler; his sister, Barbara Greene; many nieces and nephews; and his many valiant, American veteran brothers and sisters-in-arms.
Services have been held. Interment was at Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery in Elwood.
Memorial donations are appreciated to Fisher House at Hines Hospital.
Hitzeman Funeral Home, Brookfield, handled arrangements.
