James "Jim" Nainiger

JAMES "JIM" NAINIGER, age 89, the beloved husband of 61 years to the late Judith A. (nee Gron); loving father of Karen Malcom (husband David), Kevin, Kristen Bobes (husband Tyler), and the late Kathleen; devoted grandfather of Ian Malcolm (Caitlin Barnes), Makenzie Nainiger, Bridger, Lachlan "Lucky", and Margaret "Margo" Bobes; cherished son of the late James J. and Jean (nee Bolden) Nainiger; dearest brother of Eugene Nainiger (wife Mary), Dolores Roethel (husband Thomas), Darlene Kral (husband Timothy), and Susan Wilson (husband Herbert) and brother-in-law of Gary and Kristy Gron, Susan and the late Thomas Kascak, and Nancy and William Powell; dear uncle, great-uncle, and cousin of many.

Jim was born on August 5, 1936, in Cleveland, Ohio. A proud native, he graduated from St. Joseph High School in 1954 before attending Fenn College, where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Business Administration in 1958.

Jim began his professional career at the Federal Reserve, where he was instrumental in helping build their very first mainframe server system. This launched a dedicated career in information technology that spanned nearly 40 years across various companies.

Faith and community were central to Jim's life. Alongside his beloved wife, Judy, he was a deeply active member of Saint Paschal Baylon Catholic Church. Together, they participated in Marriage Encounter weekends and PreCana ministry, and Jim proudly served his parish community as a Eucharistic minister.

Sports played a massive role in Jim's life. As a long-suffering Cleveland sports fan, he could frequently be found coaching from his couch and yelling at the television. His love for the game extended to the field and the court; he played softball and basketball well into adulthood, often keeping up with men half his age. He also shared his passion with the next generation, spending many years coaching youth softball and basketball teams. In his downtime, Jim enjoyed playing cards, dancing with Judy, and keeping his mind sharp with crossword puzzles and Sudoku.

Before anything else, Jim was a cherished husband, loving father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, and cousin. He held his family near and dear to his heart, cherishing every moment spent together. Jim will be long remembered for his quick sense of humor, his unwavering devotion to his faith, and his deep love for his family. His laughter, jokes, and spirit will be profoundly missed by everyone who knew him.

In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in memory of Jim to St. Paschal Baylon, 5384 Wilson Mills Rd., Highland Heights, Ohio 44143 or to Alzheimer's Association Cleveland Area Chapter here.

Mass of Christian Burial Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at St. Paschal Catholic Church 5384 Wilson Mills Rd, Highland Heights, OH 44143 at 10 AM. Burial following at All Souls. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of James at DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) MONDAY 3-7PM. Online obituary, guestbook, & order flowers at www.DeJohnCares.com