James Harry (Jim) Niewold

James Harry (Jim) Niewold,79, of Sycamore, Illinois died Wednesday, October 2, 2024, in Elgin, Illinois. Jim was born to John Henry Niewold and Helen Marie (Mitchell) Niewold on October 24,1944, in Sycamore, Illinois.

In notes left behind by Jim, he represents himself as "born and raised in Sycamore", however, history now holds that he was also a longtime business owner and historian in this town he loved so dearly.

Jim graduated from Sycamore High School as a member of the Class of '62.  During his high school years, he reports that he was "active in the Trampoline Group, performing in many parades and travelling with the group to Puerto Rico to perform."

Shortly after graduating from high school, Jim enlisted in the Air Force and served in the Philippines "repairing U.S. aircraft used in the Vietnam war".  It was there that he first learned to work with sheet metal.  Prior to discharge, Jim served at McClellan Air Force Base in Sacramento, California.

Continuing to use his sheet metal skills after his military discharge, he worked as an HVAC contractor in Stockton, California.  He had second thoughts about this career when he was working on "sheet metal ducts under homes and, horror of horrors, came into contact with spider webs." The temperate weather of central California quickly gave way to the weather of Sycamore, and back he came.

A longtime tinkerer, Jim found himself interested in fixing Ham Radios and broken clocks, which eventually led to opening a business of clock sales and repair.  The Clock Shoppe in Sycamore was established and operated by Jim for 47 years.  Here is how he described the business - "The Clock Shoppe sells all kinds of clocks from alarm clocks to cuckoo clocks to grandfather clocks.  We have the largest collection of clocks in DeKalb County."

In addition to running The Clock Shoppe, Jim became the town historian when he identified that unless someone stepped forward to preserve Sycamore history much stood to be lost.  In this effort, Jim also developed an interest in genealogy and has compiled an extensive chart of Niewold history.

The children of Sycamore loved Jim.  He was the man who brought them into his shop and taught them "all kinds of things", and he was the clock shop guy who sat outside his shop during the Fall festival handing out candy.  In his absence this year, this important duty will be taken up by his brother Jack and close friend Larry.

Jim's family and friends say that he was " well read, intelligent, funny, had a curious mind, loved kids, was a good man, and a man dedicated to routine."  He was known as loyal, very private but also quite social.  Jim met routinely with groups of friends and would often host these groups in the Clock Shoppe.

Jim leaves behind three siblings - John "Jack" of Terrebonne, OR; Janet Niewold Curtright of Lakewood, WA; and Shirley Niewold Strodtman of Little Elm, TX; as well as several nieces and cousins. Jim was preceded in death by his sister Nancy Niewold of Somerset, CA.

Vicisti, Galilaee

There will be a celebration of Jim's life – memorial time of visitation for friends and family at Butala Funeral Home, 1405 Dekalb Avenue, Sycamore, IL on Wednesday, November 6th from 10:00 AM – 12:30 PM.  At 1:00 PM following this gathering time, there will be internment services with military honors at Elmwood Cemetery.

To sign the online guest book, go to www.ButalaFuneralHomes.com

Donations in Jim's honor can be made to:

DeKalb County Historical Center  -  1730 N Main St,  Sycamore, IL  60178

Gift of Hope Foundation Organ &  Tissue  -  425 Spring Lake Dr,  Itasca, IL 60143

Chris Klug Foundation  Organ & Tissue. -  P.O. Box 64,  Aspen, CO  81612