Phillip Charles James

Phillip Charles James, devoted husband and loving father, passed away alongside family at his residence in Sioux City, IA on January 24 at the age of 83 years after a short, but valiant, battle with cancer and heart disease.

Services for family and friends will be held at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel in Sioux City on Monday, January 29 at 1 pm. 

Phil was born the son of Howard McKinley James and Naomi (Golden) James in their home in Wayne, NE on December 29, 1934. Phil grew up in Wayne, NE and graduated from Wayne High School in 1952. He was known for his humor, his generosity, and his ability to ignite laughter in any room. Phil met the love of his life, Carol (Tiedtke) James and the two married on April 29, 1960, beginning a lifelong partnership of love and commitment.

Phil served in the US Army in Fort Sill, Oklahoma between 1960-1962, achieving a rank of E-5 before his Honorable Discharge. The couple returned to northeast Nebraska and located in Wayne. Phil became employed by Gillette Dairy as a door-to-door milkman, serving Wayne and the surrounding area for nearly 20 years. It was not uncommon for Phil to see children playing in the sprinkler on a hot summer day and stop the milk truck to deliver popsicles! Phil garnered many friendships over his years in northeast Nebraska, with neighbors in every small town. Phil and Carol relocated to Carol’s hometown in Pilger, NE in 1982. Phil accepted the position of Village Clerk in Pilger, following technical training at Northeast Community College in Norfolk, NE. In 1993, Carol retired from teaching and became a minister for the United Methodist Church. Phil, a loyal and stalwart supporter of his wife – and years ahead of his time – traveled with her to her appointments in Norfolk, Friend, and Neligh and served those communities alongside her during his retirement.

In 2001, the couple moved to Sioux City and, although retired, Phil worked part time as a delivery driver for HyVee and volunteered for the Veteran’s Administration and St. Luke’s Hospital. Having raised 4 children, Phil and Carol began to enjoy time spent with their grandchildren, who often visited them in Sioux City, to attend camp, play in the pool and just enjoy their grandparents’ company. Phil also enjoyed traveling to visit his family in Iowa, Montana and Washington. His children and grandchildren were the center of his life, a source of enormous pride and they will always remember him fondly the 25th of each month.

Phil is survived by his wife of 57 years, Carol (Tiedtke) James and his children: Penny James (Jim Kibler) - Trout Creek, MT, Allen (Eva) James - Carroll, IA, Pam (Erik) Christensen - Council Bluffs, IA and Michael (Tracy Duany) James – Seattle, WA. He is also survived by seven grandchildren, Ramsay Riddell, - Seattle, WA, McKenna (Daltin ) Pickett – Council Bluffs, IA, Tristan Riddell – Bozeman, MT, Wyatt Hancock – Council Bluffs, IA, Maggie Riddell – Missoula, MT, Phoebe James – Seattle, WA, and his namesake, Charles Phillip James, Seattle, WA; one great granddaughter, Violet Pickett, a sister, June Papst - Papillion, NE and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his beautiful sister, MariBelle, and his mother-in-law, Viola (Tiedtke) Mewis.

Known for his kind heart, his loyalty and gentle spirit, Phil will be greatly missed by many people whose lives he touched over the years. He had a way of making others feel better by simply being in his company and will be remembered for the glint in his eye, his gift of gab and his ability to strike up a conversation with any person, from any walk of life. A truer friend and more humble man could never be found.

The James family would like to especially thank Geralyn and Lance Fjeldheim and their children for being extraordinary neighbors for nearly 14 years. The family would also like to extend their gratitude to the health care professionals who provided compassionate care during Phil’s illness.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials joyfully be made in Phil’s name to the June E Nylen Cancer Center in Sioux City to provide light to those suffering from this disease.