James Peter Lovell died peacefully at the age of 80 on Tuesday, June 29, 2021 in McKinney, TX, after a sudden illness. He was surrounded by his children and grandchildren. He was born December 21, 1940 to Glenn Ayres Lovell and Mona Elizabeth (Williams) Lovell in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Oak Park, Illinois and graduated from Oak Park River Forest High School in 1958 where he met the love of his life of 58 years, Priscilla Jean Darby Lovell. He earned a B.A. degree from Duke University and a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett Evangelical Seminary (Northwestern). Post-Graduate studies were done at Wartburg, Aquinas and Dubuque Seminaries, Lutheran General Pastoral Psychotherapy Institute and Garrett Seminary.
While in high school he was granted a License to Preach, was ordained a Deacon in 1964 and an Elder in 1966 in the Rock River Annual Conference of the Methodist Church. He served churches in Chicago (Austin First), North Carolina (West End, Pittsboro and Apex), and in Illinois (River Forest, Apple River, Cicero, Arlington Heights, Elk Grove Village, Schaumburg, and New Lenox). He served five years as the Rockford District Superintendent and on the Cabinet of the Northern Illinois Conference of The United Methodist Church.
In addition to serving as a parish pastor for over 40 years he served as an officer on the board of The Jo Davies County Mental Health Association, the Board of Counselors of the Alexian Brothers Hospital, the Cicero Family Service Bureau, The Business Industrial Ministry, the Volunteer Service Bureau of Greater Chicago and the Elk Grove Career Advisory Council. He was a counselor for the Lutheran General Hospital Pastoral Psychotherapy Institute and served as a mentor for pastors as well as a spiritual director to many. Wherever he served he sought to bring health, wholeness and the love of God to everyone.
Following retirement, he enjoyed his time at Lake Thunderbird in Putnam, Illinois and then The Riverwood Plantation in Estero, Florida. His children and grandchildren will remember him for his love of back rubs, naps, bread, popcorn and endless pots of coffee. They will miss his never-ending puns and homemade pizza. His passion for reading, cooking, singing and barber shop quartet and traveling “one trip after another” to be with family and friends was a witness to his joy for learning and a desire to love others well. He and Priscilla would often travel long distances to bless others, even if it was for a short visit. His legacy will continue through the singing of the “Johnny Appleseed” grace before meals and the inspiration he showed by extending abundant grace to family and friends.
Peter will be dearly missed and forever in our hearts. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife, and 3 older brothers Richard Glen, Thomas Oliver, and Harry Rhys Lovell. His daughters Jeanne (Joseph) Kircher and Valerie (Timothy) Brinkman; his son Harry (Karrie) Anderson; his grandchildren – Julie, Ryan (Lauren), Eric (Katie) and Andrew Brinkman; John and Peter James Kircher; Valerie Jean, Mary, and Riley Anderson; and great-grandchild Wyatt Daniel Anderson.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to American Cancer Society, Crohns & Colitis foundation or a charity of your choice.
A Memorial Celebration of the lives of both Peter and Priscilla for their family and friends will be held on Saturday, July 31, 2021 at 11:00 AM at New Lenox United Methodist Church, 339 W. Haven Avenue, New Lenox, IL, 60451. The family requests your presence for lunch and a time of sharing immediately following the service.