James Frederick Heim, 79, of Holland

James Frederick Heim, 79, of Holland, Indiana, passed away peacefully on August 7, 2024, at Ascension St. Vincent Hospital in Indianapolis, surrounded by his family.

Jim was born on August 9, 1944, in Huntingburg, Indiana, and graduated from Holland High School in 1963. He met and married the love of his life, Tonya Rothert, on September 6, 1969. Together, they built a life and raised a family in Holland.

A hardworking man, Jim began his career at 12 on Ring Farms. After high school, he worked at the Dubois County Co-op and Neukam & Rothert Hardware, where he earned a reputation for fixing anything and became known as the “Maytag Man.” Jim also drove a milk truck and eventually opened his own business, Heim Hardware, in 1989. For over 30 years, he enjoyed driving a school bus, cherishing the connections he made with his “bus kids.”

Jim served in the Army National Guard from 1963 to 1969 and honored veterans as a member of the Holland American Legion Honor Guard. He was a devoted family man, taking pride in his farm, restoring his 1956 Ford Fairlane, and spending time with his grandsons, Drew and Carter. Known for his sense of humor, Jim could always be counted on for a good joke. He also had a deep love for animals and will be missed by his cat, Lilly.

He is survived by his wife, Tonya; his son, Brian Heim; his daughter, Andrea Schwartz (Chad); and his grandsons, Drew and Carter. He is also survived by his sister-in-law, Sharon Luegers, and her husband, David, along with numerous nieces, nephews, and extended family. 

He was predeceased by his parents, Oscar and Verona (Whitsitt) Heim; two brothers, Russell (Irma Sickbert) and Robert Leroy; and six sisters, Kathryn, known as Tootie (Melvin) Sickbert, Norma Jean (Hubert) Hollander, Helen (Jess) Batch, Mary (Ivan) Morris, Clara Faye (Don) Rust, and his twin Jane Heim. 

A memorial service will be held at Nass and Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg on Saturday, August 17, at 2 p.m., with visitation on Friday, August 16, from 3 to 8 p.m., and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Military rites will be conducted by the Holland American Legion Honor Guard at the funeral home.  Condolences may be shared online at:  www.nassandson.com

In lieu of flowers, to honor the wonderful nursing care he received at Memorial Hospital and Ascension St. Vincent Hospital, the family requests donations to the Tonya Heim Nursing Scholarship at the Memorial Hospital Foundation in Jim’s honor: weblink.donorperfect.com/JimHeim