James Neikes

James J. Neikes (Ace) was born in Astoria to Dr. Robert D. Neikes and Elizabeth Judd Neikes in 1956. He was the fourth of five children. 

Jim grew up on the sunny south slope of Astoria and enjoyed building forts, buying, selling and fixing anything on two wheels, mainly skateboards, bicycles and Honda motorcycles.  He had fond memories spending time with the Cathcart, Klepp and White families. 

Mike Cathcart gave Jim the nickname “Ace” in junior high school and that name has been with him ever since.  In high school Jim was on the football team wearing #75, and in track & field tossing the discus and the javelin. He played the trumpet throughout high school and loved marching bands. Jim graduated from Astoria HIgh School in 1975. After a very brief stint at Mount Hood Community College, Jim returned to Astoria and worked in the fishing industry at Union Fish, Barbey Packing and Astoria Cold Storage and summers in Alaska on the Woodbine processing boat and mowing hay on his father’s farm in Jewell with Kenny Ness. His next adventure was with C&C Bodyworks, which led to his love of fixing cars and trucks. 

With a loan from his dad, Jim purchased his first log truck and started Neikes Trucking.  He hauled logs for various companies all over the Pacific Northwest. He knew all the sawmills and backroads on the west coast of Oregon and Washington. He liked the logging industry and alongside trucking he started Pacific Timber, at one time having 102 employees.  He later sold the trucking company to Jay Browning. He then started the Big River Excavating Company with Clyde Stanley, Mike Sarin and Tony Ewing and later sold the company to them.  3 J’s was next with Jeff Canessa and Jason Palmberg and they developed Polo Ridge near Surf Pines.  Starting and selling companies seemed to be what he did, but kept North Coast Truck Parts, which came in handy for all the engines he liked to work on.  In his spare time Jim liked buying used cars and fixing and then selling them with his Shoreline Auto company.  His latest companies with Daniel Borders were Pacific Timber Trucking and AC/DC Excavating.  Hauling rock, building roads, buying, selling and improving properties was his passion, but he had fun taking time off from his busy schedule to watch his favorite GreenBay Packers and never missed the many gatherings and BBQ’s that his friends and colleagues put on and often went home with leftover food.   The long road trips to bring home the government surplus equipment he had purchased at various auctions were tiring, often saying he’s got to stop buying all this stuff, but that never happened. Jim loved a good deal and the cheaper the better.  Jim liked attending Ritchie Brothers and Barrett Jackson auctions and loved a good debate on any issue.
In 1988 Jim married Jacalyn Atkins and the following year Melissa was born followed by James Robert.  Sponsoring and coaching his children's games mattered to him and Sundays were their dedicated “daddy day”. He took his children to Disneyland, Knott’s Berry Farm, Six Flags Magic Mountain and Disneyworld many times over. He loved his Missy and Biff.
Jim believed in his community and supported kids involved in 4-H, sponsored numerous athletic teams and NW dream hunts. 
One could always spot Jim working, even from far away, being 6 '5'' tall and wearing his trademark hickory shirts and Carhart pants. Sadly, on September 1, 2023 his heart gave out. Jim leaves a huge void and will be missed by hundreds of friends that were part of his daily life.
He is survived by his spouse Jacalyn M. Atkins, daughter Melissa Neikes, step-daughter Julie Rae Brownfiled and grandchildren Elianna Mae, Dahlia Rayne, Tyler Jordan and Janessa Mae.

Jim leaves behind his siblings Martha Romanov, David Neikes, Thomas Neikes (Joom) and Caroline Neikes and his special friend Sirpa Duoos and family. He was preceded in death by his parents and his son James R. (Biff) Neikes.
A celebration of life is planned for 2 p.m. on Saturday, October 21, 2023, Clatsop County Fairgrounds, 92937 Walluski Loop, Astoria, OR, 97103.