Reverend James "Jim" L. Shiell

James Lester Shiell was born on September 2, 1931, in Scobey, MT to Howard and Muriel (Helland) Shiell.  He was the sixth child of six.  He lived on a farm in Montana and then in 1937, the family moved to a dairy farm by Hoffman, MN.  He graduated from Hoffman High school in 1949 and went on to graduate from Augsburg College with a History major in 1954.  That fall he started at Augsburg Seminary.  On September 1, 1954, he married Ethel Nordstrom. To that marriage four children were born- Douglas, Teresa, Timothy and Kristin.

Jim’s first call was Foxhome-Vukku Lutheran churches from 1957 until 1962.  He volunteered to serve in the Army as a Chaplain in 1962 serving three years at Fort Rucker, AL; three years at Fort Richardson, AK; one year in Vietnam. After finishing his tour in Vietnam in 1969, he accepted a call to Milnor Lutheran Church in Milnor, ND.  In 1979 he accepted a call to Trinity Lutheran Church in Park Forest, IL.  He retired from the ministry in September 1996.  They made their new home in Woodbury, MN to be closer to some of the family.  Their new church home became King of Kings Lutheran Church in Woodbury.  Even though he was officially retired, he enjoyed many years of ministry at King of Kings.

Jim enjoyed his church ministry and his family. He enjoyed playing with his kids and grandkids—walks, croquet, soccer, golf, basketball, tennis, card games, and hiking in CO.

During his years in the Army, he was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain to Major, earning the Bronze Star medal, Army Commendation medal with an Oak Leaf cluster, National Defense Service medal, Vietnam Service medal, Vietnam Campaign medal and one Overseas Service bar.

Survived by his loving wife, Ethel; their children, Doug (Mary) Shiell, Terri (Steve) Moberg, Tim (Carolyn) Shiell and Kris (Tom) O’Neil; nine grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; sister, Muriel Giles; brother, Wendell (Ruth) Shiell; many nieces and nephews.

Preceded in death by his parents, Muriel and Howard Shiell; sisters, Ruth Jacobson and Corinne Leslie; brother, Ralph Shiell.

Memorial service 11:00 AM, Saturday, February 11 at King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Drive, Woodbury.

Inurnment King of Kings Lutheran Church Columbarium, Woodbury.

Visitation one hour prior to the service at the church.

Memorials are preferred to King of Kings Lutheran Church, 1583 Radio Drive, Woodbury, MN  55125.