James Marion "Jim" Nicely

James (Jim) Nicely, 79, of Anderson, Indiana and formerly of Wabash, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home on January, 25, 2026, after a short, but brave battle with cancer. He was born on October 1, 1946, in Wabash, Indiana, to Paul Lester and Dorothy Rose Nicely (nee Johnson). Jim was preceded in death by his siblings, Richard Nicely and Melody Craig.

Jim attended Noble High School during his freshman and sophomore years and Southwood High School for his junior and senior years, from where he graduated in 1964. He joined the United States Army in November 1965. He completed basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky, and advanced individual training at Fort Gordon, Georgia, jump school and Airborne training at Fort Benning, Georgia, eventually being stationed in Kaiserslautern Base, Germany, where he was a communications specialist decoding secret and top secret messages.

He was honorably discharged from the military in 1968 to work at his family's business. He married April Coppock in 1971. He worked at Container Corporation of America/Jefferson Smurfit from 1971 until retirement in 2006. After retirement, he dedicated his time as a Trustee at Zion Lutheran Church, Wabash, Indiana, as well as playing pickleball and fishing with his close friends and sons in Canada, Minnesota, and Michigan.

Jim was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Wabash until moving to Anderson, where he transferred his membership to Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Indianapolis.

He is survived by his wife, April; two sons, Matthew (Cynthia) Nicely of Reno, Nevada, and Phillip (Kelly) Nicely of Anderson, Indiana, and his four grandchildren, Jack and Ella Nicely of Reno, Nevada, and Luke and Hannah Nicely of Anderson, Indiana.

A funeral service will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church on Saturday morning, January 31, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. (8115 Oaklandon Road, Indianapolis, Indiana, 46236). A celebration of life will be held by his family and friends at a future date at Zion Lutheran of Wabash.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Jim's honor should be made to Holy Cross of Indianapolis, Zion Lutheran of Wabash, Fall Creek Christian Church, or a charity of your choice.