James Nordheim
James “Jim” E. Nordheim, 70, of Decorah died Monday, June 24, 2019 at Winneshiek Medical Center in Decorah. Funeral services were held Monday, July 1 at Old East Paint Creek Lutheran Church in rural Waterville with Pastor Ken Kimball officiating.
James Edward Nordheim was born September 30, 1948 in Decorah, the son of Curtis and Eileen (Nicholson) Nordheim. In 1966, he graduated from Decorah High School and went on to receive his bachelor’s degree in economics and psychology from University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. May 29, 1970, Jim married Julie Faldet at the Lutheran church in Calmar.
Jim loved working with cattle almost as much as he loved his family. Until 1972, he worked with his dad at Nordheim Livestock and then became farm manager for Tom White Dairy Cattle, which later became the Heifer Exchange. In 2010, Jim began working at Northeast Iowa Sales Commission, now Equity Livestock, in Waukon, where he remained until his death. In 2011, he and Julie moved to rural Decorah.
Jim loved being out on the Mississippi River with Julie and the family, either boating, fishing or (in his younger years) waterskiing; he was very proud of his boat he had for 30 years. As devoted as he was to his cattle, Jim never missed his kids’ or grandkids’ school activities. He was also a big NASCAR and Iowa Hawkeye fan and last September, he was able to go to a game at Kinnick Stadium.
As an organized hoarder, Jim was a resourceful tinkerer and spent time in his “fixin’ garage” inventing things. He liked to bowl and do crossword puzzles, which he cut out from newspapers and kept in a file near his bed to work on, and enjoyed working on his lawn as well.
He is survived by his wife, Julie; his three children: Amanda (Jay) McGeough, Aaron Nordheim and Amy (James) Johnson; his grandchildren: Caleb Nordheim, Kristen and Mason McGeough, and Ella, Finley and Cooper Johnson; his mother, Eileen Nordheim; two brothers, Randy (Patty) and Michael Nordheim; his sister, Laurel Nordheim; his mother-in-law, Phyllis Faldet; his sisters-in-law, Linda (Stan) Brandt and Nadine (Roger) Larson; and several nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his father, Curtis; an infant brother, Neil; and his father-in-law, Dervin Faldet.
Honorary casketbearers were the staff at Equity Livestock and the Camp Lacupolis crew. Casketbearers were Randy and Michael Nordheim, Jerry Blomme, Stan Brandt, Jerry Bulman, Steve Henning, Roger Larson and Dan Treangen. Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.
