James (Jim) Eldon Dykes, 79, Brainerd

James (Jim) Eldon Dykes, age 79, passed away at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Brainerd, surrounded by his family on Friday, August 20, 2021.

Jim was born in Waterloo, Iowa on November 4, 1941 to Eldon Leo Dykes and Eileen Veronica (Meek) Dykes. He was the first-born of five children. Jim attended St. Boniface Catholic School in Ionia, Iowa, graduating in the Class of 1959.

Growing up, he farmed with his parents in Ionia before moving to Minnesota. He met his future wife of 57 years, Nancy May Spicer, at the K-M Drive-Inn in Kasson. On November 23, 1963, he and Nancy were married at St. John’s Catholic Church in Dodge Center, and together they had five children. After moving to Minnesota, he worked at the Kasson Livestock Exchange and the City of Kasson. In 1965, he started a life-long career at IBM in Rochester retiring in 2003. There Jim worked in computer card design manufacturing, where he met life-long friends. He and Nancy also hobby-farmed in rural Kasson while raising their children.

Jim enjoyed wood-working and home construction projects with family and friends. He most enjoyed fishing the lakes of Northern Minnesota, settling at Donneybrook Farm Campground on North Long Lake in Brainerd in 1979. He treasured spending time with his wife, five children, 14 grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren, teaching all the kids how to fish and enjoy lake-life in Northern Minnesota.

Jim is survived by His wife, Nancy Spicer Dykes; four siblings, Janice Williams (Butch Reynolds) of Eyota, Virgil Dykes (Connie) of Lake City, Joan Ehret (Walter) of Lewiston, and Jolene Anderson (Tom) of Byron; four siblings-in-law, Sharril Wheeler of West Concord, Lennis Spicer of Ham Lake, Arlin Spicer (Sherrie) of Phoenix, Ariz., and Michael Spicer; his five children Perry Dykes (Mary) of Brainerd, Winette Prow (Steve) of Big Lake, Quintin Dykes of Rochester, Julie Johnson (Tom) of Mantorville, and Lynae Anderson (Dustin) of Lakeville. He is also survived by his 14 grandchildren: Kaitlyn Dykes, M.D., Nathan, Steven, and Zachary Dykes; Kristi Jeska (Greg) and Mathew Prow; Nick, Theresa, and Ben Peterson; Cassie, Jared, and Colby Johnson; Maya and Michael Anderson; and two great-grandchildren Landon and Bria Jeska. Jim is also survived by many nieces and nephews, and his dog Sam.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eldon and Eileen Dykes; his parents-in-law Lawrence and Norma Spicer, and brothers-in-law Neil Wheeler and Dan Williams.

A funeral mass is scheduled at St. John’s Catholic Church, 20 2nd St NE, Dodge Center on Saturday, October 9, at 11 a.m. A luncheon will follow at the church.