James Michael Olheiser

Born June 15, 1933, in Dickinson, North Dakota (ND) to Rudolph and Wilhelmina (Reiter) Olheiser, he was known to his many friends and acquaintances as James, Jim, or Jimmy—but to his many nieces and nephews, he was affectionately called, Uncle Jack.

James attended parochial grade school at St. Patrick’s in Dickinson, ND and completed his high school education at Assumption Abbey in Richardton, ND.

After graduating from high school, James began an extensive career in the Army. During the Korean War, he served in Japan. He earned his proficiency certification in field artillery maintenance in the 1st Calvary Division. While stationed in Japan, he met his future wife, Toshi Nishino. James and Toshi were married on October 10, 1955, at the American Embassy in Tokyo. After receiving an honorable discharge at the rank of Staff Sargent, James and Toshi moved back to the United States. Married for 55 years, James and Toshi lived a rich life full of travel experiences, as well as countless camping and fishing trips with friends and family.

Upon returning home from the Army, James remained in the Reserves before settling into a 25-year career with the U.S. Postal Service that lasted until he retired in 1988. After retirement, James embraced the technology era. Computer City, Radio Shack, and Best Buy were his favorite places to shop. He used his expertise to fuel his passion for creating and maintaining the family tree. He spent countless hours, days, and years, researching family history and publishing reams of paper with the family tree mapped out in great detail. James was always learning and he wanted to pass that knowledge on to his nieces and nephews. Family and friends will also recall his life-long love for taking pictures and his skills in photography.

James was a devout practicing Catholic. His faith sustained him throughout his life and was of great comfort in the final months of his illness. He firmly believed in family and family connections, eager to tell stories of his childhood, time in the Army, his life with Toshi, or his many visits with friends and relatives. Often described as stubborn, one never doubted his integrity. His word and his work ethic were the true measure of his character.

James was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Toshi; two brothers, Francis and David Olheiser; and five sisters, Mary Catherine Christie, Ramona Ehli, Margaret Herzog, Florence Lenhardt, and Sister Mary David Olheiser, OSB. He will be fondly remembered and missed by his surviving nieces and nephews.

A Mass of Christian burial for James will be at 11 a.m., Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at Holy Cross Catholic Church, with Father Mark Bachmeier as the celebrant. Holy Cross Catholic Church is located at 7455 N Hodge Ave, Portland, OR. A luncheon will follow at the community center next door where the family invites you to come and share your favorite stories and memories.

In lieu of flowers, it was James' request that memorial donations be made to the Holy Cross Catholic School Children’s Tuition Scholarship Fund.