James "Duke" Willard

DUNLAP-James F. "Duke" Willard, 80, of Dunlap, IL passed away at 7:28 p.m., Thursday, May 18, 2017 at OSF Richard L. Owens Hospice Home in Peoria. He was born on May 9, 1937 in Providence, RI., son of James and Florabell Willard. He married his beautiful wife Lisa on April 5, 1976 in Las Vegas, NV. They enjoyed a wonderful and eventful life over 41 years together. Surviving are his wife of Dunlap, daughters Barbara (Rick) Bernet of Clovis, NM and Ann (Nille) Ankar of Stockholm, Sweden, sons Ulf (Nguyet) Lindqwister of Peoria, IL and Erik (Janice) Lindqwister of Las Vegas, NV. Also surviving are members of his New England family; dearest sister Jane Lutz of Pawtucket, RI, Nieces Ryan (Jason) Hamelin of Malden, MA and Melanie (Marc) Anderson of Brookline, MA. He was blessed with a wealth of beautiful and talented grandchildren stretching from Las Vegas to Sweden and Illinois to the American Southwest. After graduating Attleboro High school in Massachusetts in 1955, Jim studied radio, TV and theater at the Leland Powers School in Boston for one year. He joined the Marine Corps in 1956, and after completing recruit training at Paris Island, was privileged to be placed in the elite 6th (Devil Dog) Regiment of the 2nd Marine Division. After fulfilling his military obligations, he headed West to Las Vegas in 1959. Rising through the ranks in casino gaming, he began as a dealer and attained status as a casino executive at Caesars World and Las Vegas Hilton. He especially enjoyed being Assistant Casino Manager for Steve Wynn's Golden Nugget. As a youth, Jim was a Dealer for Frank Sinatra's Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe. He retired from the gaming industry last working with Bellagio in Las Vegas in 2002. During a three year break from gaming in 1965, Jim graduated from the Don Martin school of broadcasting in Los Angeles. He was fortunate to cover Ronald Reagan's campaign for Governor of California in 1966 when he was a news director in Sacramento. Never having lived in the Midwest, it was the Lindqwister family and grandkids who got Lisa and Jim to settle here in 2002. Both came to love the people in the Peoria area. An avid Bogey Golfer, who occasionally played to a 16 handicap, Jim loved the game and loved the people at Arrowhead Country Club even more. Jim was amazed at the number of very talented theater personnel in Central Illinois, especially at Peoria Players Theater where he was lucky to be in supporting roles there from 2011 to 2016, working with great people and great directors - he loved them all. Jim was a volunteer at Proctor Hospital from 2004 until 2012. He was an appreciative member of St Jude's Catholic Church. God helped him fight off three rheumatic fever attacks as a youth, and multiple cancer bouts during the past 23 years. Jim is happily convinced that the Lord has booked him for a "stand up" gig upstairs. At his request, cremation rites have been accorded. A Memorial Mass is scheduled for 10:30 a.m., Thursday, May 25th 2016 at St. Jude's Catholic Church, 10811 N. Knoxville Ave in Peoria. Father Eric Bolek will officiate. Private burial will be in Providence, RI at a later date. Memories and condolences may be sent using www.peoriafuneral.com.