James Carl Bade

Our Dad, Jim Bade, passed quietly in his sleep this Friday April 19, 2024 afternoon after 91 years living a life full of gregarious spunk, intestinal fortitude, adventurousness, with a fierce open-minded tolerance for all things, ideas, people and possibilities. He was fiercely just and fiercely kind.

He was an egghead to be sure. He traveled so much of the world with my mom and most of it was not staying at the Ritz but instead, getting down in the dirt and "living and learning" it. He was a journalist and an editor in his very heart and soul and just plain old curious about real life.

Despite all "the things", family always came first. Always. Shirt off his back guy to family and friends. And even "shirt" to those that were not yet his friends... but with my dad, they naturally ended up friends.

If I had to pick just one snapshot of Dad that will stay and stick with me forever, it is a song. Dad had a marvelous singing voice. And we 3 little girls would beeeeegggg from the back seat of the car for Dad to sing to us. And he always happily obliged. My favorite was Swinging on a Star. I'll think of him whenever I hear the words: "So you see it's all up to you, you can be better than you are, you could be swingin' on a star". Thanks Dad, I'll remember.

"Would you like to swing on a star

Carry moonbeams home in a jar

And be better off than you are

Or would you rather be a mule

A mule is an animal with long funny ears

Kicks up at anything he hears

His back is brawny but his brain is weak

He's just plain stupid with a stubborn streak

And by the way, if you hate to go to school

You may grow up to be a mule

Or would you like to swing on a star

Carry moonbeams home in a jar

And be better off than you are

Or would you rather be a pig

A pig is an animal with dirt on his face

His shoes are a terrible disgrace

He has no manners when he eats his food

He's fat and lazy and extremely rude

But if you don't care a feather or a fig

You may grow up to be a pig

Or would you like to swing on a star

Carry moonbeams home in a jar

And be better off than you are

Or would you rather be a fish

A fish won't do anything, but swim in a brook

He can't write his name or read a book

To fool the people is his only thought

And though he's slippery, he still gets caught

But then if that sort of life is what you wish

You may grow up to be a fish

And all the monkeys aren't in the zoo

Every day you meet quite a few

So you see it's all up to you

You can be better than you are

You could be swingin' on a star"

James married Yvonne “Bonnie” Auffant June 17, 1956 in Des Plaines, IL; she passed away December 15, 2018.

James worked as a journalist and in public relations. He graduated from Northwestern University. He was the past president of the Cedarville Area Historical Society.

James is survived by his three daughters, Wendy (Hal) Gilpin, Lisa (Patrick) Goodwin, and Sue (Steve) Myers; sister-in-law, Barbara Bade; eight grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.

James was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Esther Bade; wife, Bonnie Bade; sister, Joyce Johnson; brothers, Al and Art Bade; and grandson-in-law, Max Hazen

A memorial service will be held at the Cedarville Cemetery at a later date. In lieu of flowers the family requests that because of Jim’s deep interest in history of all kinds that a memorial in his name be made to the Cedarville Area Historical Society at 1212 South Stewart Ave, Freeport Il 61032. Please sign Jim’s guestbook and share a memory at www.burketubbs.com