James William Sundling

James (Jim) William Sundling of Las Vegas, NV, formerly of Elmhurst, IL, passed away in Peoria, IL, on August 7, 2022, at the age of 62. Jim was born in St. Paul, MN, on June 16, 1960. His parents, Peg (Margaret Flanagan) and Joseph Sundling were excited to add baby number four to their growing family. A few years later, Jim gained a baby sister. Not long after that, the family moved to Milwaukee. In June of 1965, Jim’s dad passed away, and Peg moved her clan to Riverdale, Illinois, to be closer to family. Jim’s baby brother was born within months of moving back. Living around the corner from the Rabbitt family and near his Aunt Pat and Uncle Jack meant having a lot of kids running around to laugh with, trips with most of the 11 Sundling and Rabbitt kids piled into the car (remember it was before seatbelts were mandatory), and creating so many wonderful family memories at backyard barbecues and family celebrations. Attending the Dolton Fourth of July Parade as a large family group is an unforgettable memory. Warning: Jim was like an onion, a complicated man with a great, multilayered personality. This is long so grab a beverage of choice, sit back, read and relax. The immediate family was very important to Jim. They cherished him as a great son, a wonderful sibling, and the best (red-headed) brother-in-law. Every time the family gathered, legendary stories were told and laughter ensued. He would tell great jokes and pull pranks. He was in-tuned to how he could help his family and jumped in before being asked. In recent years the siblings and in-laws gathered to play mini-golf. Though fun, the tournament could quickly become cutthroat, especially between Jim, Mike, and Steve. They would banter about who was the better golfer on the golf course and used the mini golf course to add to their bragging rights. Jim’s heart held a special place for his nieces and nephew. He reached out to them, encouraged their endeavors, and congratulated them on their life accomplishments. He was their cool UJ, warm and thoughtful, they knew he was always a willing listener. Though distance separated them, they connected through social media as well. Jim would often comment on the antics of his great nieces as well. As a kindergartener at General George S. Patton School, he met the first group of his life-long friends. By the time he and his friends were six years old, they realized that they had two choices. They could either become fighters or make friends. They were not fighters and banded together as friends. According to one of the members of this posse, they ruled Pacesetter, their home turf. It was during these early years that his friends gave him the name Suds. As much as we wish a more legendary tale to tell about this nickname, it simply evolved because Sundling was simply too hard for the posse to say. Jim completed his freshman year at Marist High School in Chicago, before transferring to Thornton High School in Harvey, IL. While attending Thornton, he met a great group of friends who expanded his circle and continued to be part of his life. He was a good student, a decent coronet player, and a member of the band. Though the football coach tried to recruit him to the football team, Jim chose to join the golf team instead. This began his life-long love of the game. Years later, his decision proved wise as he realized those brutish peers, who once told him that golf was a sissy sport, were the battered guys out on the golf course. As a teen, summertime was an opportunity to make spending money. Jim combined his loves of golf and pocket cash by becoming a golf caddy at the Olympia Fields Country Club, where he worked hard for his tips. While working as a caddy he learned about the Evans Scholars Foundation. A hardworking student and caddy, Jim applied and received one of the foundation’s scholarships. His hard work in the classroom and on the course paid off in bigger ways. The Evan Scholars Foundation gave him the opportunity to attend college on a 4-year scholarship and changed his life in many ways. The time he spent in the Evans house in Champaign was more than memorable. He met more friends that became a part of his ever-growing circle. His time spent in the Evans house in Champaign and his ever-growing circle of friends created more than just good memories. Rumor has it that he lived up to his nickname during these years! A proud Illini, Jim graduated from the University of Illinois as a Business major, and soon passed his CPA certification. He began his career in Chicago at JMB Realty Corp. He then worked for Stein and Company before moving to Chase Banks. Once in Las Vegas, he became a realtor, Most recently working at Key Realty Southwest. A true Chicago sports fan, Jim was a die-hard White Sox fan, who truly loved to tease his family and friends about their loyalty to that Northside team which shall remain nameless here. A Blackhawks fan as well, when the Las Vegas franchise opened, he quickly changed his allegiance and became a fan of the Las Vegas Golden Knights. As for the Bears, you would be hard-pressed to find a bigger fan. He loved the team and would spend Football Sundays in local Las Vegas Bears fans’ establishments. He enthusiastically celebrated their victories and cursed their losses with the other transplanted Chicagoans. At one point, Jim owned a couple of racehorses. For his 30th birthday, family and friends gathered trackside to watch his trotter win its first race. It was a memorable night as we stood under the lights in the winner's circle. Gathering with family and friends whether for a beer or a meal was certainly what he looked forward to. A happy, generous host, Jim opened the doors to his homes to everyone. When Jim lived in Elmhurst the Pacesetter Posse frequently gathered at his house to play cards, eat pizza, and enjoy their favorite beverages. It was revealed during those card games that Suds was not his only nickname when pizzas were ordered under another moniker. The pizza place knew him as Murph as Jim thought it was easier to spell Murph than Sundling. Hosting company in his home in Vegas brought him great joy. The golf friends often invaded Casa de Suds for a week of golf, transforming Jim’s home into a Frat House The guys occupied all of the beds, and slept on blow-up mattresses, the couch, and in sleeping bags. They rotated the sleeping spaces so no one had to sleep on the floor all week. Jim liked attending concerts. One memorable event was attending the last concert of Stevie Ray Vaughn. He enjoyed listening to the Blues and especially enjoyed attending live performances at The House of Blues in both Chicago and Vegas. Fate gifted Jim with a chance meeting of Blues legend, Mr. B.B. King and Lucille on a red-eye flight between his two hometowns. He recently attended a Shinedown concert. That night, he and a friend had a great time. Then, thanks to social media, he and niece Katy discovered that they were fans of the same group. Living in Las Vegas meant access to many live stage shows and some fun with all of the gaming available to him. In June he was playing video poker and hit royal flushes two weeks in a row. The casinos may collectively have a sigh of relief or a moment of silence for a favored customer. With an infectious smile and charismatic personality, Jim drew in EVERYONE he met. So often his work clients and complete strangers immediately became new friends. Going into restaurants with Jim felt like being with royalty; everyone was a treasured friend. At wedding receptions, the members of “the other family” often tried to adopt him into their family before the night’s end. Even his pastor announced his presence with “Hey everyone! Live from Las Vegas here is the one and only, the legendary world’s greatest real estate agent, Jim Sundling.” Coworkers at Key West have shared that no one was an agent competitor in Jim’s eyes. Everyone was treated as colleagues and friends. He noticed his peers' small successes and offered his congratulations. He encouraged others and made them feel comfortable no matter how long they knew him. The team wholeheartedly agrees that Jim was just as wonderful a person that they all aspire to be. As a friend so accurately describes, Jim was a JOYOUS FORCE OF LIFE, whose heart was as big as he was and whose hugs were the stuff of legend. Always ready with good jokes, Jim often lightened the mood of a somber event. He chose his words carefully. When he spoke, he made people feel great, and he listened to others as though they were the most important person in the world. Every time he answered the phone, his smile and cheery greeting embraced the caller instantly reminding them that he could be relied on when needed. Ask any of his friends to describe him, and you are sure to hear the words, thoughtful, kind, sweet, witty, and loving over and over again. A quiet hero to so many, Jim donated to a long list of local and national charities. His giving went beyond writing checks, as he worked in soup kitchens and with Habitat for Humanity. Giving of his time doesn’t surprise any of us. However, we were surprised to learn that he chose to help build with Habitat. Jim was not handy and his motto for home repairs was “pay for it to get the job done.” His willingness to go beyond his comfort level and work with Habitat is an inspiration. Jim was also a lifelong blood donor He donated regularly, and over the years he generously gave over 25 gallons of life-saving blood, giving credit to his mom for getting him started on this early in life. Committed to paying his good fortune forward, Jim generously donated to the Evans Scholar Foundation for over 30 straight years. Proud to pay back to the organization that changed his life and gave him an opportunity he once only dared to dream of, his generosity gifted many others the chance to live their dreams too. With signature generosity and commitment to his community, during the pandemic, Jim reached out to many in a new way. As a “Food Hero” with Delivering with Dignity, an outreach program that operates under United Way, Jim delivered meals directly to the most vulnerable people in the Las Vegas Valley. Without a doubt, his smile, warmth, and kindness helped soften the hardships so many faced at this time. Jim’s spent his final day with 20 of his friends at their 40th annual golf outing. The day was filled with many laughs and good times, Saturday was the best day they could recall. We know that he enjoyed himself! And, as sad as we, the family, are, we are so glad he had this weekend. Though our days with Jim were far too few, the gift of every moment we shared with him will long be treasured. As we miss our dear brother, uncle, cousin, and friend, we will find comfort in our many treasured memories as well as in the honor of carrying his amazing legacy forward. In each moment we welcome a stranger as a friend, meet life’s challenges with confidence and humor, give of our time and talents in service of others, listen with empathy, and abundantly envelope our loved ones in joy, we celebrate the many ways Jim gifted the world. And in this way, we keep his vibrant spirit alive and inspiring others as he so inspired each of us. Jim was preceded in his passing by his parents, Joe and Peggy, and his brothers William and Joe. He is survived by his siblings, Mike (Betty), Cathy Cavallini (Joe Giordano), and Joanne Sundling (Steve Setinc); nieces, Katy (Brad) Marshall and Rebecca Sundling; nephew, John (Christopher) Sundling; great nieces, Hannah and Aubrey Marshall; many cousins; his friend and partner in crime, Dayna Brosnan; Goddaughter, Gayle (Humbert) Gleespen; and a multitude of friends whom he considered family. According to his wishes, cremation has taken place. A memorial service will be held at the chapel of Holy Sepulcher Catholic Cemetery on Saturday, October 22, 2022 at 10:30 AM. The cemetery is located at 6001 W. 111th St. Alsip IL. A memorial will be held in Las Vegas at a future date. f you are interested in honoring Jim by supporting a community organization, the family suggests supporting these groups. Evans Scholarship Foundation: Please include Jim’s name in your donation. website link: https://secure2.convio.net/wgaesf/site/Donation2?df_id=1520&1520.donation=form1&mfc_pref=T&pw_id=1521 By check payable to Evans Scholars Foundation 2501 Patriot Blvd Glenview, IL 60026-8022 Delivering with Dignity website link: https://www.deliveringwithdignitylv.org/donate On the page where you add your credit card info, click on the ‘Add special instructions’ section. Please Add Jim’s name and donate to Las Vegas so your donation goes directly to the group he volunteered for. By check: make checks payable to The Moonridge Foundation with Delivering with Dignity Las Vegas and Jim’s name in the memo line and mail to: The Moonridge Foundation PO BOX 1766 Las Vegas, NV 89125

James William Sundling

June 16, 1960 - August 7, 2022