James B. Condill

James Blanchard Condill, of Barrington, IL, passed away peacefully on Christmas Eve 2025, at the age of 87.

He was born January 15, 1938 in Elgin, IL, the son of the late Buck and Fern (Pederson) Condill.

Raised in Barrington, Jim’s faith was formed at Salem United Methodist Church, spending many years attending Church Camp at the Barrington Camp Grounds with family and friends. Jim graduated from Barrington Consolidated High School in 1956. He excelled at basketball in high school and continued his playing career at Montana State University.

He worked summers at Barrington Hills Country Club teaching swim lessons, and ran a Children’s Play School at the Barrington Park District.

Jim was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Harrer on December 19, 1960, at St. Anne Catholic Church, where he later became a member after converting to Catholicism. Together they shared 57 loving years of marriage until her passing in 2017.

Known to many as “Gym,” he was everyone’s friend. He loved all sports, cheering until the end for the Cubs, Bears and Gonzaga Bulldogs. He was known for his wonderful sense of humor and found great joy in summers spent by the ocean in North Carolina, grilling on his beloved charcoal Weber, and—above all—cherishing time with his family

Jim’s early career was with the family business. He was an HVAC man with his uncle’s company, Ahrens & Condill Heating and Air Conditioning, and then later found his niche in the Retirement Community world. He worked as a Facilities Director for Friendship Village in Schaumburg, then with Senior Lifestyle Corporation, assisting in the construction and opening of their first location, The Breakers at Edgewater Beach, Chicago. He finished his career with the Cenacle Sisters of Loyola, overseeing operations at the Cenacle Retreat and Conference Center in Chicago.

Jim felt a calling to ministry and in 1979 was ordained as a Permanent Deacon in the Archdiocese of Chicago. He faithfully served in many capacities for more than 35 years in the Chicago area and at St. Anne Catholic Church. As a Permanent Deacon, he married, buried, baptized and ministered to thousands within the Barrington community, and all across the Country. He founded the Deacon Truck Stop Ministry, designed to put a Deacon at every Truckstop in order to support drivers on their faith journeys.

Jim is survived by his loving children, J.B. Condill, Jeffrey Condill, Courtney (Ray) Condill-Peterson, and Devyn (John) Kelly; his beloved grandchildren, Grady (Madison), Jacob, Zachary, Cooper, Brennan, Lindsay, Lisa, and Stephanie; his great-grandchildren, Callan James and Brock James; and many cousins, nieces and nephews.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ellen; and his brothers, Bill, Charles, and Bruce Condill.

Visitation will be held Friday, January 16, 2026 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral Mass at 10:30 a.m. at St. Anne Catholic Church, 120 Ela St., Barrington. Urn burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery, Barrington.

Donations may be made in Jim’s memory to either JourneyCare Hospice, 405 Lake Zurich Rd, Barrington, IL 60010; or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research at give.michaeljfox.org