Obituary of James Nokleby

James (Jim) Donald Nokleby, age 90, passed away peacefully on March 22, 2024 at 7:20 am with loved ones at his side in Chico, California.

Jim was born on March 2, 1934 in Willamina, Oregon. He was the second of four boys (LeRoy, Dick, and Bobby Nokleby), born to Elmer Nokleby and Myra (Edwards) Nokleby. He graduated from Willamina high school in 1952 and soon after enlisted in the Navy where he worked as a journalist in Honolulu, Hawaii and sailed on the USS Hancock. After serving 4 years in the Navy he ended up in San Francisco where he met his beautiful wife, Elsa (Campodonico) Nokleby in 1958, and married soon after on August 1, 1959. They were married for 64 wonderful years. Jim began working in San Francisco as coffee broker with Dudley Cowan, who later became his brother-in-law. Dudley married Ada Campodonico, Elsa’s sister. He went on to work as a Computer Operations Manager for Western Pacific Railroad in San Francisco. In 1983, he was transferred to St. Louis, Missouri to work for Union Pacific railroad until his retirement in 1988 at the age of 55. To be closer to his children, he moved with Elsa to Paradise, CA.

Jim spent his retirement as an active member of the St. Thomas More Catholic Church, the Paradise Elks Lodge (garnering the man of the year award) and The Knights of Columbus where he spent a term as the Grand Knight. To honor fellow veterans, he annually lined the Skyway in Paradise with American flags on Veterans Day and the 4th of July. He kept himself busy around the house with gardening, yard projects and going for a swim on a hot day. Always social, friendly, and generous with a dry, intelligent wit. He and Elsa travelled extensively, threw great parties, and loved their life together.

He is survived by his wife Elsa, his daughter Karen and Son-in-Law Scott Schmidt, his son Brian and Daughter-in-Law Kelly (Edwards) Nokleby and son Eric Nokleby and girlfriend Breena Conlin (all of whom Jim made up more ridiculous nicknames than would fit on this page). He was the proud grandparent of Holly and Ben Nokleby and Tanya and Tyler Schmidt. He is also survived his sister in law, Beverly Nokleby, and many nieces and nephews in Oregon and California.