James Coyle

Click to View Jim's Memorial Mass Live

Jim Coyle, 57, of Miller, South Dakota passed away peacefully on Friday, October 16, 2020, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls after a brave battle with cancer.

Memorial Mass was held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, November 19, 2020 at St. Ann's Catholic Church in Miller with Father Paul Josten officiating. Due to the peak of COVID and the protection of others, the family requests for masks to be worn at the funeral services. If you are unable to wear a mask, we invite you to watch the service live streamed by clicking on the link above.

James Joseph Coyle was born on July 25, 1963, in Chamberlain, South Dakota.  He was lovingly adopted by Joe and Florence Coyle of Polo, South Dakota.  Jim went to school in Polo until 1980. He graduated from Forestburg High School in 1981.

In his earlier years, Jim was an avid sports player, playing all throughout his youth with Orient ball teams.  Throwing a 104-mph fast ball, Jim was known for his love of baseball.  In 1979, he held the State VFW Tournament Strikeout record by striking out 14 batters in 7 innings.

On June 19, 1982, he married Marita Martinmaas of Watertown, South Dakota at Holy Name Catholic Church.  They made their home in Miller where Jim was an extremely hard worker which involved farming, home improvement, fertilizer application, and J&C gutter business.  He was very dedicated to his last job and put his full heart, working tirelessly, into driving a fuel truck for Joe Sovell, with Sovell Oil.

Jim was such a good guy, with a great smile and one of a kind laugh, he may not have been perfect, but he was always so kind, considerate, and an absolute joy to be around. Jim was never one to turn down someone that needed help. If you ever needed Jim, you could find him sharing a nice cold beer or a glass of bourbon while playing cards with family and friends. He also enjoyed shooting sports, hunting and fishing. He had a good and satisfying life, but it was too soon to lose this caring, gentle man and he will be profoundly missed by many.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Marita of Miller; their three children: Jennifer (Kirk) Phinney of Milbank, Rachel (Chris) Bahle of Bennington, NE, and Sean (Sarina) Coyle of Miller; 9 grandchildren: Camryn, Carter, and Collin Phinney; Madison Leidholt, Ashton and Talan Heezen; and Kooper, Aubrey, and Marlee Coyle; one brother, Anthony (Delila) Coyle of Orient; three nephews: Josh Manning, Paton, and Landon Coyle; one niece, Jessie Mae Coyle; five foster siblings: Patty Johnson, Joan Wieseler, Jerry Coyle, Connie Sorenson, and Pam Venjohn; numerous brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles, cousins and close friends. He was surrounded by so many that loved him dearly and will be forever remembered.

Welcoming him into heaven were his parents, Joe and Florence Coyle; his in-laws, Werner and Celesta Martinmaas; son-in-law, Dustin Heezen; brothers-in-law: Werner Martinmaas III, John Tumlinson, and Les Davidson; and nephew, Lance Tumlinson.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Jim's arrangements.