James Donald "Bugsy" Veselsky

James "Bugsy" Veselsky passed away peacefully on July 24, 2026 surrounded by his loved ones. Bugsy was born on August 17, 1948 to James and Elsie Veselsky. He was raised in Lyons, IL where he played Little League Baseball with his friends every summer. It was from one of his baseball friends that he was nicknamed "Bugsy” after crawling to home base like a bug. Bugsy went on to play varsity baseball at Morton West High School. Upon high school graduation, Bugsy went straight into the workforce, until he ultimately decided to enlist in the United States Navy in 1968 at the height of the Vietnam War. He spent his Navy career working as a Boilerman and fueling planes at the Roosevelt "Rosie" Roads U.S. Naval Station in Puerto Rico. After being honorably discharged from the Navy, Bugsy started his lifelong career working in Information Technology. He would work at Rockwell International, Cook County, and Morton International before ultimately retiring from Rush University Medical Center. Bugsy was introduced to the love of his life, Patricia, through his cousins. They would marry in 1977 and they welcomed their daughter, Stacy, in 1983. They decided to raise their daughter in Lyons, where Bugsy spent many happy years as a child. During his retirement, Bugsy served as the Senior Vice President and Finance Officer of the Emil Scheive American Legion Post 699. He was also elected as a Village of Lyons Trustee under the United Citizens Party. Bugsy is survived by his loving wife, Patricia, their beloved daughter, Stacy (Joe) Rusakiewicz, his brother Jack (Ellen) Stephens, his sister-in-law Patricia Wold, and many nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

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