February 2024
Reverend James Bruce Ilten was born to Robert and Hulda (need Brammer) Ilten in Cedar Rapids, IA on September 29, 1932. He was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, IA on October 23, 1932, later attended the day school at Trinity for first through eighth grade, and was confirmed on April 21, 1946, also at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedar Rapids, IA.
Pastor Ilten attended Concordia College in Milwaukee, WI for high school and junior college, graduating in 1952. He then attended Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, MO where he received his Bachelor of Arts (1954), Master of Divinity (1957), and Master of Sacred Theology (1962) degrees. During the summers of 1967-1972, he completed his requirements for the doctoral program at Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, MO. Additionally, he received training for the Interim Ministry Network from October 1996 to February 1997.
From 1958-1960, Pastor Ilten was a religion instructor at Concordia Teachers College in River Forest, IL. He was
ordained into the holy ministry at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Danbury, CT in 1960. He organized Christ the King Lutheran Church in Newtown, CT in 1960 and served as their first pastor until 1968. He then served as pastor of Evangelical Lutheran Church of St. Michael in Chicago, IL from 1968-1978 and Associate Pastor of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard, IL from 1978-1997. From 1998-2003, he served the LCMS Northern Illinois District as an Intentional Interim Pastor, assisting congregations in Waukegan, IL, Burlington, IL, and Bartlett, IL. After retiring in 2003, he returned to St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard, IL as Pastor Emeritus from 2003-2013 in the role of part-time visitation pastor.
Over the years, Pastor Ilten also helped organize CROP hunger walks, prayer vigils, retreats, and ministry to students at DeVry and National College of Chiropractic. He was Lombard Police Chaplain from 1991-1997. He was a longtime member of the Rotary Club of Lombard and served on the Board of Directors of the Tri-Town YMCA. He served as circuit visitor and as a pastoral advisor for the Lutheran Laymen’s League. For years, he preached twice weekly for Faith, Hope, and Peace Ministries at assisted living centers in the area. Pastor Ilten also enjoyed serving as a Stephen minister, singing in the choir, and teaching Bible classes at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Lombard.
Pastor Ilten married Nadine Marie Lindhorst on June 7, 1957. Their marriage was blessed with four daughters and two sons-in-law: Janet Elise, Julie Marie, Kathleen Louise (Jeffrey) Heller, and Karla Nadine (Gregory) Menze. They were also blessed with four granddaughters: Emma and Elizabeth Heller, and Katherine and Caroline Menze.
Pastor Ilten passed away on Tuesday, January 30, 2024.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Nadine; his parents, Robert and Hulda; and his siblings and their spouses, sister Gertrude (LaSalle, “Buster”) Schmidt, Eugene (Jane), Robert (Patricia), Philip (Sheila), and young Theodore.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, February 4, 2024, from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Brust Funeral Home, 135 S. Main St., Lombard, IL 60148. Lying-in-State will be Monday, February 5, 2024, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln St., Lombard, IL 60148. A funeral service will follow at 10:30 a.m. Immediately following the service, a luncheon will be held in the fellowship hall of the church. There will be a private inurnment at a later date in Cedar Memorial Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
Memorials may be given to St. John’s Lutheran Church, 215 S. Lincoln St., Lombard, IL 60148 and Lutheran Hour Ministries.
To livestream the funeral service on Monday, February 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m., please visit https://www.stjohnslombard.org/ and scroll down to the “Livestream” area of the homepage.
All pastors planning to attend and participate in the service are asked to wear vestments with a green stole.