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Roland Rapheal Nilles, 78

Roland Rapheal Nilles, 78, decided he wanted to try his luck in hunting and fishing at the Happy Hunting Grounds on April 19, 2019. And when we see him again, he will tell us he was very lucky.

Roland and his twin, Roger were born in Dubuque, Iowa, on Dec. 30, 1940, the sons of the late Eugene and Marcella (McPoland) Nilles.

Roland attended elementary school in Dubuque and attended middle and high school at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Freeport, Ill.

Roland worked construction in Illinois. When he came to Idaho, he helped build the smokestacks in Kellogg, the Veterans Memorial Bridge in Coeur d’Alene, he laid pipe for the Trans Canada Gas Pipeline and helped build Expo ’74 in Spokane, Wash. Roland worked for numerous construction companies until he retired in 1997.

He met Julia in Thompson Falls, Mont., in 1968. Roland and Julia married Feb. 3, 1969, in Minneapolis, Minn.

Roland loved to hunt and fish with family and friends, and raise cows.

He is survived by his loving wife, Julia Nilles of 50 years at the family home; two daughters, Michele (Carl) Fister of Rathdrum, Idaho, and Annette (Todd) Krieg of Vancouver, Wash.; two sons, Martin (Mary) of Idaho and Shane (Rochelle) of Oregon; grandchildren Martin, Christaina (Robert), Josh (Michelle), Nathan (Alissa), Rolanda (Doug), Dustinjohn, Rustinjay (Ashlyn), Kaelyna, Tristin and Lucas; great-grandchildren Kayden, Kaitlyn, Paityn, Alice, Lucas, Kennedy, Kingsley, Jaxon, Avianna, Zachary, Sadie and Monroe; two brothers, David (Carol) Nilles of Freeport, Ill., and Mark (Rosie) Nilles of Forreston, Ill.; one sister-in-law, Louise Nilles of Freeport; and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and three brothers, including his twin, Roger.

Roland was a very loving husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather and neighbor; he will be missed by many.

Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to noon on Saturday, May 4, 2019, at English Funeral Chapel, 1700 N. Spokane St., Post Falls, Idaho, with services to follow at 1 p.m. Burial will follow the service at Evergreen Cemetery in Post Falls, with an early dinner to follow at English Funeral Chapel. Serving as pallbearers will be Josh, Nathan, Dustinjohn, Rustinjay, Tristin and Lucas.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial donation can be made to Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or American Heart Association.

Arrangements have been entrusted to English Funeral Chapel, Post Falls. Please visit Roland’s online memorial at www.englishfuneralchapel.com.