James Brown, 62

James Douglas Brown, 62, of Colo, formerly of Villisca, passed away on March 24, 2025.
Jim was the son of Elinor and Robert (Bob) Brown. He was born June 30, 1962. He was the youngest child with two brothers, Jeff and Ken.
Jim grew up in Villisca where he took on various jobs, including working at Bob’s Skelly gas station, weeding beans, baling hay, and mowing lawns to earn money. Jim graduated from Villisca schools; there he participated in multiple activities, including football, swimming, and shop classes. He then went on to Iowa Lakes Community College and graduated in 1982.
In 1993, Jim married the love of his life, Deb. They built a life filled with love, dedication, and cherished moments. Jim built a successful career at the Heartland Co-op where he would later retire. After retirement, Jim continued to stay busy using his skills and craftsmanship as a welder and fabricator for IHLE Fabrication. Jim’s initial work and design for the company have supported IHLE’s growth into a multimillion-dollar company that now has nearly 100 employees. Jim also enjoyed traveling, trains, mushroom hunting, and music.
Jim is survived by and will live on through many family members and friends. Jim will be remembered for his hard work and determination but also for his kindness, generosity, and unwavering love for his family and friends.
A celebration of life will be held on April 5, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at the Villisca City Community Building.