James "Jim" Callero passed away peacefully the afternoon of November 1, 2023.  He was in his home where his family surrounded him with stories of love and appreciation.  The last sound he heard was laughter.

Jim was born in Chicago in 1944, but lived most of his life in Niles, IL.  As a child, he discovered a knack for sports and games, two passions he carried for the rest of his life.  He became an avid card player, keeping a standing game of gin rummy at the club up until his death.  He was a talented bowler, happy to brag about his 15 straight strikes over 2 games and his 781 series.  In fact, his initial ambition was to forgo college for professional bowling.  He credited his brothers Dutch and Bob with talking him out of this plan.  As a compromise, they directed him to St. Joseph's College, where he ruled the bowling team for four years. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting in 1966.

Jim had always been extremely competitive, a characteristic in constant conflict with being a lifelong Bears fan.  Plus, early on he developed an intuitive feel for business.  In college, he started several businesses, including a cake delivery service.  He grew this enterprise to the point where he was managing several employees, who worked for free to pay off the debts they'd incurred to him during their evening card sessions.

He held several positions after college and was offered a role as a Controller at a very young age, but instead chose to join his brothers at the Callero & Callero public accounting firm where he worked for over 30 years, eventually as a partner.  During this time, and after, he held several positions in the public sector, including Chairman of the Zoning Committee of Niles.

He remained competitive in sports and business as long as his body allowed.  One of his proudest achievements was as part of the Jesters, posting 3rd place in the 1981 Softball World Series. Another was starting a bank and then negotiating its sale to a national competitor.

In retirement, Jim became a trustee for a select group of clients.  In this role, as with his tenure at Callero & Callero, he made friends across the northwest suburban area, and earned the respect of everyone he served.

Jim was definitely a fighter and known for his comebacks.  At points, he was moments away from losing both his legs to cellulitis; survived 25 different surgical procedures, including a triple bypass operation; and recovered from more diabetic comas than his family would care to remember.

If you're reading this on a screen, please stop by his office and show him how to access it.

Jim will continue to be loved by his family: Martha, his wife of 55 years; his son Brett and his wife Kelli and their daughter Grace; his son Mike and his wife Michelle and their daughter Lia; his daughter Danna and her husband Chris and their children Zoe, Nolan and Quin; his daughter Ronnie and her husband the tech support Mike and their children Keely, Ava, Owen and Maeve; and his son Ken and his wife Theresa and their children Charlie, Ella, Joss and Joe.

He was predeceased by his father Frank Julius Callero (whose Italian birth certificate actually lists his name as Francisco Mario) and his mother Johanna Marie Breuer.  Also by his brother Frank "Dutch" Callero and his wife Joyce Callero.  Because Frank Julius passed when Jim was only six years old, Jim commonly credited Dutch with being a stable father figure.

On Sunday, November 5, visitation will be held at Skaja Terrace Funeral Home at 7812 N. Milwaukee Ave., Niles IL 60714 from 3:00 pm to 8:00 pm. On Monday, November 6, funeral procession will start at 9:00 am from Skaja to funeral mass that will be held at St. John Brebeuf Catholic Church at 8307 N. Harlem Avenue, Niles IL at 10 am, immediately followed by interment at All Saints Cemetery.

The family has requested that remembrances be made in the form of contributions to the American Diabetes Association (or the Bears because they could use all the help they can get.)

The Funeral Mass will be live streamed on Monday morning, to view the Mass please click on the
following link for: St. John Brebeuf Church once on the webpage scroll down and click to the live stream box then click on the James Callero Funeral Mass.