Dr. James T. Traxler, 89, passed away on February 11, 2019, after a long battle with cancer. He was born in 1929 in the small town of Le Center, Minnesota where he spent his childhood growing up and working on his parents’ farm. Jim nurtured a serious interest in chemistry and ended up helping teach his own chemistry courses during high school. He attended St. John’s College in Minnesota, and went on to get a Ph.D. in organic chemistry at Notre Dame University in Indiana.  He married the love of his life, Gabrielle Traxler in 1956. Together, they raised their five children in Evanston, Illinois, in a loving and lively home while he worked as a Research Chemist and Gabrielle worked as an Art Librarian. He had a fabulous streak of humor. He was always using his skills and inventiveness to build and fix things while his children were growing up.  He loved camping with his family during the summer, instilling his love for the beauty of the outdoors in his children. In retirement, he took up writing, play reading, classical guitar, continued his life long political activism and much more.  He and Gabrielle were active members of St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Evanston, Illinois.  Jim led a rich life with his family and many friends and appreciated the gifts he had been given.  Jim is survived by his dearly beloved wife, Gabrielle Martens Traxler, his five children, Lisanne, Pete, Martine, Karen and Madeleine and his seven grandchildren, Logan, Zoe, Sally, Laura, Tate, Francie and Maggie. He is also survived by his sister, Mary Jo Weber, his brother, Roger Traxler and many nieces and nephews.  Jim’s family would like to express their profound gratitude to the caring community of Jim’s and Gabrielle’s friends and neighbors at Three Crowns and the staff of Three Crowns Park. The family is also deeply grateful for the care provided to Jim in the last days of life by the Nurses and Nursing staff at Elsa House in Three Crowns, and through Journey Care Hospice.  A Memorial Mass will be celebrated February 23, 2019, at 2 p.m., at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 806 Ridge Ave., Evanston. A Memorial Service will also be held February 24, 2019, at 3 p.m., at Three Crowns Park, 2323 McDaniel Ave., Evanston. The family encourages donations to: The Society of Concerned Scientists or St. Nicholas Church in Evanston, IL.