MENDOTA – James “Jim” R. Wiley, 75, of Mendota, passed away Saturday, May 4, 2024, at his home surrounded by his loving family and a friend.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Arrangements were entrusted to Hanley-Turner-Eighner Funeral Home in Earlville.

He was born Oct. 3, 1948, in DeKalb, the son of Roger and Mildred (Burke) Wiley. He married Cindy Sue Lisk on Jan. 24, 1994, in Galena.

He is survived by his wife Cindy; his children, Julie (Randy) Messerich, Jessica (John) Mann, Jonathan (Val) Wiley, Jacob (Paige) Wiley, Kourtney (Dalton) Heath, Jared (Carly) Wiley and Joshua Wiley; stepdaughters, Kayla (Cole) Udelhofen and Kristen (Jose) Nieto; grandchildren, Hailey, Kierra, Addison, Callan, Sage, Quentin, Bear, Indigo, Levi, Emilia, and Camden; step-grandchildren, Alice, Maeve, Cruz, Otto, Ellis, Selma, Owen and Piper; siblings, Susie Pfau, Sandra (David) Gast, Frank (Diana) Wiley, Mark Wiley, Bill (Paulette) Wiley, Donald “Kerry” Wiley; two sisters-in-law, Vicky Wiley and Cathy Wiley, and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his twin brother Patrick in infancy; one sister Connie in infancy; one brother Paul Wiley; one brother-in-law Jim Pfau; and nieces Jamie Wiley, Jenny Pfau and Katelynn Wiley.

Jim received the Bronze Star Medal, the Air Medal for Parachuting service in the United States Army during the Vietnam War. He also served as a combat Air-Medic in the 173rd Airborne Brigade, Company D 3rd Battalion.

He loved working as a meat cutter at Freedom Sausage for many years. Jim enjoyed his annual trips to Leech Lake, Minn., with his large family. Most of all he loved spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

The family would like to thank OSF Hospice and his friend Danny Dolder for the wonderful care given to Jim in his final days.

For more information or to sign the online guest book go to www.EighnerFuneralHomes.com.