James Theodore Nilles,79,of Escondido, CA and Granville, IA, passed away Saturday, Aug. 3, 2019, atOrange City Health System Hospital in Orange City, IA.
Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Friday Aug. 9, 2019 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville, with Father Daniel Greving officiating. Burial will be at a later date in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be Thursday from 4-6 p.m., with a Knights of Columbus rosary and vigil prayer service at 5 p.m. all at the church. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service on Friday. Services have been entrusted to Fisch Funeral Home & Monument of Remsen, Iowa. Condolences may be sent online to
www.fischfh.com
James was born July 5, 1940 at LeMars, Iowa, the son of Theodore and Julia(Luken)Nilles. He was raised in Remsen and received his education from St. Mary’s Catholic School, graduating in 1958. He then attended Devry Technical Institute.
On Dec. 30, 1961 he married Mary Jean Paulsen at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville. The couple made their home in Escondido, CA. Over the years Jim worked at Convair and General Dynamics where his special project was mine detection which was his pride and joy. He also worked at BAE Systems.
He was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Granville, St. Timothy’s Catholic Church in Escondido, CA, 4thDegree Knights of Columbus and Alhambra. He enjoyed camping, coin collecting and watching Fox News. He loved his family and grandchildren and since his heart trouble in 2015 he became very close to our Lord.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Jean of Escondido, CA; his children, Kevin Nilles of Granville, IA, Eric Nilles of Escondido, CA and Renee (Dale) Franklin of Granville, IA; 5 grandchildren; 2 great-grandchildren; his siblings, Daniel (Sandi) Nilles, Jan Klein both of Le Mars, IA, Diane (Glenn) Brown of Sioux Falls, SD, Nancy (Charlie) Brown of Brandon, SD, Bonnie (Harlan) Borchers of Le Mars, IA and Gene (Myrna) Nilles of Sioux Falls, SD; two brothers-in-law, Ron (Cheryl) Paulsen, Steve (Marilyn) Paulsen both of Granville; three sisters-in-law, Clara (Ron) Hunter of Le Mars, IA, Linda (Tom) Linden of Granville, Jan (John) Brooks of Alton, IA.
He was preceded in death by his parents; one son, James Bryan Nilles; one sister, Carol (Dick) Lang; one brother, Thomas Nilles, his in-laws, Wilken (Florence) Paulsen, two brothers-in-law, Richard Paulsen and Elmer Klein.
Casket bearers will be Chris Nilles, Scott Paulsen, Brian Paulsen, Dale Franklin, Cole Brooks and Tim Paulsen.