James K. Vines

James K. Vines, 83, of University Park, passed away on Friday, January 27, 2023. He was born on July 2, 1939, in Hoopeston, the son of James K. and Elizabeth Vines. James was an entrepreneur and design engineer for many, many years. From 1979 - 1992, he designed and installed a patented line of high-precision satellite RO antennas, working mainly from Edmonton, AB. End-users included Instituto San Francisco (Tegucigalpa), Televisa, SA (Mexico, DF), numerous sites with major Western Canada cable TV contractors (WP Telectronics), Environment Canada’s geophysical research stations across the High Arctic, Rogers Cablevision, CBC, and Nigerian Television Authority. From 1980 -1988, he wrote regularly for major satcom trade pubs and consumer electronics mags. Subjects included antenna design protocols and their application with examples, installations at exotic locations, and MMDS’s unrealized potential for stimulating economic growth in West Africa. From 1992 - 2000, he consulted with in-country manufacturing feasibility studies (antennas), and “what-if” financial scenarios for proposed West African MMDS ventures. In the recent years, he worked on writing projects: global affairs based on experience, with settings including present-day, but against backdrop of “alternative” history; enough fodder for a venture or two into fiction, although, in some cases, the real world seemed stranger. The personal assessment of a former colleague: sociology major gone bad. James was a man of many talents in the workplace. Outside of work, he was also a man with many hobbies. He loved astronomy, all things history and science, such as ancient text, economics, investing, geology, and ufology. He also enjoyed baseball, powerlifting, and track and field. James had a knack for photography and traveling. Of all his skills and hobbies, eating chocolate was probably his favorite. James is survived by his son, James C. Vines; sisters-in-law, Glenda Laydew and Anna Hosea; two brothers-in-law, Martin Morris, and Robert Rogers, the brother of Lestine Vines; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his beloved wife, Lestine Vines; his parents, James K. and Elizabeth Vines; his brother, Richard Vines; sister, Mary Morris; and one brother-in-law, Donald Hosea. Visitation for James will be held on Sunday, February 5, 2023, from 4:00PM - 6:00PM at Hack-Jensen Funeral Home in Beecher. Reverend Tom Ewing will lead the service beginning at 6:00PM. James will be laid to rest at Evergreen Memorial Cemetery in Bloomington. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the wishes of the family.