Obituary: CEO Of Kinetic Systems Corp. Dies

LOCKPORT, IL — James Mitchell Stephenson Jr. age 83 of Lockport. Beloved husband of the late Shirley Stephenson nee Smith. Loving father of Michael Elliott (Ana Ortega) Stephenson, Patricia Catherine (Paul Tremmel) Stephenson, and James Mitchell (Sally) Stephenson III. Dear grandfather of Elliott, Emmett, Esme, Deanna, Madelyn, Katherine, and Wesley.

Jim was the founder (with Bob Cleary), president and CEO of Kinetic Systems Corporation
1971-1999. Prior to this, he received BSEE and MSEE degrees from Purdue University and USC
respectively and worked at Hughes Aircraft, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermi Lab
through the 1960s.

While his professional contributions were very important to him, music was his passion. He
began taking piano lessons when he was eight and met his wife, Shirley when he was nineteen
through giving her organ lessons. Beginning in his high school senior year he played piano in
local big bands, leading the Jimmy Stephenson Swing Band while at JJC and co-directing the
Freddie Mitchell Swing Band while at Purdue (1957-59). From age fourteen until last June he
was organist, pianist, and choir director at various intervals at The First Congregational Church
in Lockport.
After achieving his EE degrees, he applied his knowledge to create two cutting-edge electronic
musical instruments. With friends Bob Cleary and Darrell Strong, he designed and constructed
a three manual electronic organ from scratch that has been in use at the First Congregational
Church in Lockport since Easter Sunday 1966. In the early 1980s, he founded Kinetic Sound
Corporation (an outgrowth of Kinetic Systems), which created the Prism synthesizer.

Jim was committed to many community causes, serving on the LTHS Board (1974-85), the Board
at Silver Cross (1980-2002), and many committees at his church. He also had numerous
hobbies: jeeps, acoustics, jigsaw puzzles, train sets, photography, pipe organs... Through his
passionate application of his many interests and involvement in community he profoundly
influenced many lives and made countless friends. He will be deeply missed.

A Life Celebration will be held at a later date. During this time of social distancing it is
imperative to share your support at www.funerals.pro, there you can share a memory, a story,
or even a picture. Any act of kindness will be greatly appreciated or call 847.537.6600.

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The above obituary was posted verbatim with permission from Kolssak Funeral Home.