James (Jim) Sample was born the fourth child of Mary Lee and Chester Sample in Moline, Illinois on October 17, 1952. Two additional siblings followed his birth. He was raised on a diversified farm in Port Byron, Illinois. Jim was a quiet, easy-going child. His interests were not driven by the farm work, but school and learning. He was an avid reader and excelled in school. He was very social and made friends easily. He was a peacemaker and avoided confrontations at all costs.
Jim was highly inquisitive, which included investigating farm operations. One incident occurred when he tried to climb on stock racks that were stacked against a wall. They were made of oak, very heavy and they fell onto him. Fortunately, his only injuries were bruising and black eyes. When he was about 16 years old, he was riding a two-wheeler which tipped over and a small utility tractor following close by ran over him. He had back problems for the rest of his life, which included several back surgeries.
In high school Jim excelled in math and the sciences. After high school he attended Arizona State University, living with his Aunt Stephanie and family for a year. The following year he transferred to Colorado State University, living with his oldest brother and family. He graduated from CSU with a degree in Physics. Initially Jim was interested in astrophysics as a career but found it limiting in job opportunities. Jim continued his education at CSU receiving his master's degree in radiation health physics. After graduating from CSU, he left Colorado and got a job in Cordova, Illinois doing health physics work at a nuclear power plant. He did body scanning and radiation studies on the hardware. From that job he moved to Rockford, Illinois to work at a nuclear power plant under construction. From there he worked at the Robinson nuclear power plant in Long Beach, NC close to Wilmington. He was there doing work as a result of the Three Mile Island nuclear incident.
Jim took a hiatus from work for several years to continue his education, which included earning a professional engineering certification. He also earned a second master's degree from Campbell University in biochemistry and pharmaceuticals. He did some consulting work during this time and lived in Raleigh, NC. Jim always had a fascination with honeybees and while he was living in Raleigh, he started bee keeping. He was an acquaintance of Burt of Burt's Bees. Jim continued bee keeping and honey harvesting until his death.
Several years later, Jim moved back to Port Byron, Illinois and attended Iowa State University in Iowa City, IA. He became certified in designing and calibrating oncology equipment. He joined a consulting group that had contracts with oncology facilities. He continued his calibration certifications for oncology equipment. At the time of his death, he was working with an Israeli firm in Boca Raton, FL designing radiation equipment for skin cancer. One of his Israeli partners visited his grave site and family after hearing of his death.
Jim never married but had close friendships with several ladies. He always enjoyed female companionship. Jim neglected self-care too often. He would go days without adequate sleep, food, or down time. Jim died suddenly on November 4, 2016, from a blood clot several weeks after recovering from back surgery. He was at O'Hara airport in Chicago departing on a business trip.
Jim was highly inquisitive, which included investigating farm operations. One incident occurred when he tried to climb on stock racks that were stacked against a wall. They were made of oak, very heavy and they fell onto him. Fortunately, his only injuries were bruising and black eyes. When he was about 16 years old, he was riding a two-wheeler which tipped over and a small utility tractor following close by ran over him. He had back problems for the rest of his life, which included several back surgeries.
In high school Jim excelled in math and the sciences. After high school he attended Arizona State University, living with his Aunt Stephanie and family for a year. The following year he transferred to Colorado State University, living with his oldest brother and family. He graduated from CSU with a degree in Physics. Initially Jim was interested in astrophysics as a career but found it limiting in job opportunities. Jim continued his education at CSU receiving his master's degree in radiation health physics. After graduating from CSU, he left Colorado and got a job in Cordova, Illinois doing health physics work at a nuclear power plant. He did body scanning and radiation studies on the hardware. From that job he moved to Rockford, Illinois to work at a nuclear power plant under construction. From there he worked at the Robinson nuclear power plant in Long Beach, NC close to Wilmington. He was there doing work as a result of the Three Mile Island nuclear incident.
Jim took a hiatus from work for several years to continue his education, which included earning a professional engineering certification. He also earned a second master's degree from Campbell University in biochemistry and pharmaceuticals. He did some consulting work during this time and lived in Raleigh, NC. Jim always had a fascination with honeybees and while he was living in Raleigh, he started bee keeping. He was an acquaintance of Burt of Burt's Bees. Jim continued bee keeping and honey harvesting until his death.
Several years later, Jim moved back to Port Byron, Illinois and attended Iowa State University in Iowa City, IA. He became certified in designing and calibrating oncology equipment. He joined a consulting group that had contracts with oncology facilities. He continued his calibration certifications for oncology equipment. At the time of his death, he was working with an Israeli firm in Boca Raton, FL designing radiation equipment for skin cancer. One of his Israeli partners visited his grave site and family after hearing of his death.
Jim never married but had close friendships with several ladies. He always enjoyed female companionship. Jim neglected self-care too often. He would go days without adequate sleep, food, or down time. Jim died suddenly on November 4, 2016, from a blood clot several weeks after recovering from back surgery. He was at O'Hara airport in Chicago departing on a business trip.
James (Jim) Sample was born the fourth child of Mary Lee and Chester Sample in Moline, Illinois on October 17, 1952. Two additional siblings followed his birth. He was raised on a diversified farm in Port Byron, Illinois. Jim was a quiet, easy-going child. His interests were not driven by the farm work, but school and learning. He was an avid reader and excelled in school. He was very social and made friends easily. He was a peacemaker and avoided confrontations at all costs.
Jim was highly inquisitive, which included investigating farm operations. One incident occurred when he tried to climb on stock racks that were stacked against a wall. They were made of oak, very heavy and they fell onto him. Fortunately, his only injuries were bruising and black eyes. When he was about 16 years old, he was riding a two-wheeler which tipped over and a small utility tractor following close by ran over him. He had back problems for the rest of his life, which included several back surgeries.
In high school Jim excelled in math and the sciences. After high school he attended Arizona State University, living with his Aunt Stephanie and family for a year. The following year he transferred to Colorado State University, living with his oldest brother and family. He graduated from CSU with a degree in Physics. Initially Jim was interested in astrophysics as a career but found it limiting in job opportunities. Jim continued his education at CSU receiving his master's degree in radiation health physics. After graduating from CSU, he left Colorado and got a job in Cordova, Illinois doing health physics work at a nuclear power plant. He did body scanning and radiation studies on the hardware. From that job he moved to Rockford, Illinois to work at a nuclear power plant under construction. From there he worked at the Robinson nuclear power plant in Long Beach, NC close to Wilmington. He was there doing work as a result of the Three Mile Island nuclear incident.
Jim took a hiatus from work for several years to continue his education, which included earning a professional engineering certification. He also earned a second master's degree from Campbell University in biochemistry and pharmaceuticals. He did some consulting work during this time and lived in Raleigh, NC. Jim always had a fascination with honeybees and while he was living in Raleigh, he started bee keeping. He was an acquaintance of Burt of Burt's Bees. Jim continued bee keeping and honey harvesting until his death.
Several years later, Jim moved back to Port Byron, Illinois and attended Iowa State University in Iowa City, IA. He became certified in designing and calibrating oncology equipment. He joined a consulting group that had contracts with oncology facilities. He continued his calibration certifications for oncology equipment. At the time of his death, he was working with an Israeli firm in Boca Raton, FL designing radiation equipment for skin cancer. One of his Israeli partners visited his grave site and family after hearing of his death.
Jim never married but had close friendships with several ladies. He always enjoyed female companionship. Jim neglected self-care too often. He would go days without adequate sleep, food, or down time. Jim died suddenly on November 4, 2016, from a blood clot several weeks after recovering from back surgery. He was at O'Hara airport in Chicago departing on a business trip.
Jim was highly inquisitive, which included investigating farm operations. One incident occurred when he tried to climb on stock racks that were stacked against a wall. They were made of oak, very heavy and they fell onto him. Fortunately, his only injuries were bruising and black eyes. When he was about 16 years old, he was riding a two-wheeler which tipped over and a small utility tractor following close by ran over him. He had back problems for the rest of his life, which included several back surgeries.
In high school Jim excelled in math and the sciences. After high school he attended Arizona State University, living with his Aunt Stephanie and family for a year. The following year he transferred to Colorado State University, living with his oldest brother and family. He graduated from CSU with a degree in Physics. Initially Jim was interested in astrophysics as a career but found it limiting in job opportunities. Jim continued his education at CSU receiving his master's degree in radiation health physics. After graduating from CSU, he left Colorado and got a job in Cordova, Illinois doing health physics work at a nuclear power plant. He did body scanning and radiation studies on the hardware. From that job he moved to Rockford, Illinois to work at a nuclear power plant under construction. From there he worked at the Robinson nuclear power plant in Long Beach, NC close to Wilmington. He was there doing work as a result of the Three Mile Island nuclear incident.
Jim took a hiatus from work for several years to continue his education, which included earning a professional engineering certification. He also earned a second master's degree from Campbell University in biochemistry and pharmaceuticals. He did some consulting work during this time and lived in Raleigh, NC. Jim always had a fascination with honeybees and while he was living in Raleigh, he started bee keeping. He was an acquaintance of Burt of Burt's Bees. Jim continued bee keeping and honey harvesting until his death.
Several years later, Jim moved back to Port Byron, Illinois and attended Iowa State University in Iowa City, IA. He became certified in designing and calibrating oncology equipment. He joined a consulting group that had contracts with oncology facilities. He continued his calibration certifications for oncology equipment. At the time of his death, he was working with an Israeli firm in Boca Raton, FL designing radiation equipment for skin cancer. One of his Israeli partners visited his grave site and family after hearing of his death.
Jim never married but had close friendships with several ladies. He always enjoyed female companionship. Jim neglected self-care too often. He would go days without adequate sleep, food, or down time. Jim died suddenly on November 4, 2016, from a blood clot several weeks after recovering from back surgery. He was at O'Hara airport in Chicago departing on a business trip.
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