JAMES PAUL “Jim” HIMIC

Lieutenant Colonel (Retired) James (Jim) Paul Himic, aged 65, of Round Rock, Texas, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, January 1, 2023. 

Born October 5, 1957, he was the son of Frank and Mary Himic (Gera).  Jim attended Derry Area High School.  He developed into a gifted football player and went on to attend the University of West Virginia on a full football scholarship. It is there, in 1982, that he met the love of his life, Mary Nickels, and they married on Feb 17^th, 1983 in DeLand, Florida. 

Jim enlisted into the US Army in 1983 as a Medium Helicopter Mechanic and served in Hawaii. In 1987 he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant of Field Artillery through the Officer Candidate School (OCS) at Ft. Benning, Georgia and was assigned to various positions of increasing responsibility.  As a Lieutenant Colonel, Jim’s assignments as a Field Artillery Officer included supporting Operation Desert Shield/Storm in 1991.  He then went on to serve in other positions in Germany, including as a Detachment Commander in Schweinfurt.

Jim left active service in 1999, became an Army reservist, and continued to serve his country as a Federal civilian employee.  In 2005 he was mobilized for Iraq opertions where he helped build and train an Iraqi Army Battalion’s capability to sustain counterinsurgency operations in Tal Afar, Iraq.

Jim returned from Iraq in August of 2006 and continued his service to his nation by volunteering to support the 1^st Army’s Warrior Trainer Program.  His duties included the planning, coordinating, and synchronization of all mobilization training between Ft. Dix and the 72^nd FA BDE for units deploying to Iraq.  In October 2007, Jim became the JC7 Division Chief for the Joint Staff Support Center in Arlington, VA.

Jim’s military awards and decorations include: Army Commendation Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Overseas Ribbon (3 Oak Leaf Clusters), Saudi Arabia Liberation Medal (Kingdom of Saudi Arabia), Bronze Star Service Medal (2 Oak Leaf Clusters), Aircraft Crew Badge, Combat Action Badge, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal, and the Army Reserve Achievement Medal.

Upon retirement from the military, Jim served as a Training Liaison Specialist for the Joint Multi-National Training Command in Heidelberg Germany and volunteered as a computer specialist for the Installation Management Command (IMCOM) Pacific Region G6 at Fort Shafter, Hawaii. In recent years, Jim pursued his love of driving and exploring the country he loved by becoming a professional driver. He was a lifelong avid football fan, CSPAN groupie and fitness aficionado.

Jim was an incredibly loved husband, father, brother and friend. A man of great character, strength, honor and integrity, he took exceptional care of his family and loved them unconditionally.  He could be counted upon to always do the right thing. 

Jim is survived by his loving wife, Mary; his two children, Dr. Lisa (Mark) Gleitmann of Round Rock, TX and Ryan Himic of Harker Heights, TX; three grandchildren, Madeline, Ava and Maximilian Gleitmann; three brothers, Francis (Charlotte) Himic of Hookstown, PA, Donald (Sandy) Himic of Williamsport, PA, John “Jack” (Kathie) Himic of Falling Waters, WV; three sisters Mary Jane (James) Bigi of Greensburg, PA, Patricia Antich of Vienna, VA and Barbara Jean Kobus of Raleigh, NC.

He is preceded in death by his parents and three sisters:  Bernadette Himic, Veronica Himic and Shirley Himic Fensler.

A Mass of Catholic Burial will be celebrated by Father Max Striedl on Saturday, Jan 14, 2023 at 12 pm at St. Gall Catholic Church in Elburn, Illinois. The viewing will be 10:00am – 12:00pm.

For those who would like to send floral tributes, please let the florist know to call Conley Funeral Home for location and time of delivery, 630-365-6414.

Tributes and memories may be left on the Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or at www.conleycare.com.