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James Melvin "Jiggs" Eller (2018)

COLE, ELLER, KEY, SPOONEMORE

Posted By: Shirley Keating
Date: 11/8/2023 at 18:02:53

Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Wednesday, September 5, 2018

James "Jiggs" Eller
Winterset, IA

On Friday, Aug. 24, 2018, James Eller passed away peacefully at the age of 85 years and 22 days.

James “Jiggs” Eller was born in Lenox, Iowa, Aug. 2, 1933, to James Airy Eller and Eunice Mae (Key) Eller. James was quite a character. He earned the nickname Jiggs from the old comic strip “Jiggs and Maggie”. Jiggs grew up in the pool hall in Lenox and was quite a shot. He moved to Kansas City by himself when he was a teenager. His first job was in a parking garage. Jiggs was naturally good at making friends. Jiggs went into the Army in the 1950s and was sent to the Jungle Warfare training center in Panama for two years.

When he came back from the jungle he met Patty Cole in Kansas City, whom he married. At the time Jiggs worked and learned the ropes of the BBQ business from Kansas City BBQ Legend Jake Edwards. Jiggs and Patty were married for 45 years and raised three boys: Jim, John and Michael.

Jiggs and family moved to Blockton and then back to Lenox in the 1970s. Jiggs worked on the railroad and was a house painter at that time. In 1985 the Eller family moved to Fort Worth, Texas, where he started a successful paint business, Eller Painting. In 2005 Jiggs and Patty moved to Winterset to be near family. Jiggs enjoyed the Winterset area and its people. Some of Jiggs’ hobbies were playing guitar, chopping wood, reading and watching Westerns. Jiggs was a great storyteller and had a tremendous sense of humor. He was true man of integrity and an all-around kind soul.

Jiggs was preceded in death by his father, James; mother, Eunice; wife, Patty; sons, Jim and John; and sister, Helen.

He is survived by his son, Michael of Winterset; his brother, Harold “Curly” Eller of Mound City, Mo.; sister, Lula Mae “Cookie” Spoonemore of Lenox; grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
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Coordinator's note: Middle name taken from gravestone.

Gravesite
 

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