James Albert “Jim” Chase, 78, of Auburn, N.Y., died Feb. 8, 2026. Mr. Chase attended Kankakee High School, where he participated in the ROTC program and starred in the school’s musical production of Oklahoma! He later earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Illinois, where he became a brother of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity. His career as a manager in the glass production industry took him from Champaign, Ill., to Houston, Texas, and eventually to Auburn, N.Y. In Auburn, he met his wife over a stale donut while working at Central New York Bottle. They married in 1980 and lived in the Finger Lakes, where they raised their family and where he served on the board of the Auburn YMCA, IMC and Rotary. They later moved to Gurnee, Ill., and Festus, where they made many friendships and memories before returning home to Auburn. He was a member and elder of Redeemer Lutheran Church. In retirement, he enjoyed traveling with his family, cheering on the Illinois Illini, St. Louis Cardinals and Buffalo Bills, tending to his garden, golfing with friends and being “Papa” to his grandchildren. Born April 20, 1947, in Kankakee, Ill., he was the son of the late Donald and Kathryn (Blissard) Chase.
He is survived by his wife: Debbie (Peters) Chase; four children: Michael (Mary) Chase, Mindy (Steve) Anderson, Adam (Lisa) Chase and Andrea (Nate) Boulton; nine grandchildren: Kelli Dionne, Sarah Cook, Noah, Ethan and Levi Anderson, Lily and Odin Chase, and Gwyneth and Alys Boulton; five great-grandchildren; three siblings: Donna (Jack) Whittaker, Tom (Jane) Chase and Bonnie (Bob) Rudolf; many nieces and nephews; and many other family members and friends.
Arrangements were under the direction of Brew Funeral Home in Auburn, N.Y.