James Schilling

Rock Rapids, IA
James Dean Schilling, age 38 of Rock Rapids, Iowa died Tuesday, March 26, 2024 Avera Merrill Pioneer Hospital in Rock Rapids.
Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at First Presbyterian Church in Little Rock with Pastor Travis Remme, officiating. James Schilling Livestream Link
Visitation will be Monday, April 1st from 4:00 to 8:00 PM with the family present at First Presbyterian Church of Little Rock.
In lieu of flowers, an account has been set up at Frontier Bank in Rock Rapids, for his children.
James Dean Schilling was born July 17, 1985, to Kenny and Lois Schilling in Sheldon, Iowa. He grew up in Little Rock and graduated from George Little Rock High School in 2003. While in high school James participated in basketball, wrestling, track, and swing choir. He also worked for Rick Korthals in the chicken barn. After high school, James always worked hard, most recently for Direct TV for 12 years, and Feigen since January. He became a certified welder and was very proud of that.
In August of 2008, James was united in marriage to Valerie Nicole Eben. They had a beautiful wedding ceremony at Island Park in Rock Rapids with an unforgettable racing reception afterwards, that many people talk about yet today.
In May of 2010, James joined the Army National Guard. He had wanted to join the service since he was 17 years old and decided to make that dream come true. He completed his basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina and his AIT in Fort Lee, North Carolina. He then became a member of 2168 in Sheldon, where he made many close friends. In 2022, James was voluntarily deployed to Poland. He was deployed November of 2022 to August of 2023. His rank was E5 Sgt., and his plan was to remain in the service until retirement.
James and Val have two beautiful boys, Titus James and Romen Rayce. Those two boys meant the world to James, and he wanted to be sure they were protected before he left this earth.
James had a passion for fixing things, for figuring out how to make something work better, and for building things out of wood. He also loved racing, starting to work on and restore his 1940 Plymouth pickup, and working on projects with his best friend Caleb.
James had a great relationship with his sister and brothers. They did not always agree, but they always had each other's back. The love they had for each other will never end.
Left here to cherish his memory are his wife, Valerie; sons, Titus and Romen; parents, Kenny and Lois; sister, Christine (Trent); brothers, Eric (Eileen) and Thomas (Samantha); nephews, Parker, Camden, Levi, and Kolton; nieces, Bella, Laney, and Logyn; father-in-law, Ron (Joy) Eben; brother-in-law, Keith (Mikayla) Eben, and their children Landon and Alayna; sisters-in-law, Kendra and Melissa; many other nieces and nephews; grandmother, Jan Schilling; his Army buddies; along with aunts, uncles, and cousins. Also, neighbors by chance, and family by choice, Caleb and Lacy Borman, and their children, Dante, Akira, and Harley.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Gary and Joyce Boogerd; grandfather, Ken Schilling; Aunt Jean Boogerd, and Uncle John Boogerd; along with his best friend, Christopher Kannegieter, who he is now with.