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S.G.M. James E. Shilling

HANCOCK – S.G.M. James E. Shilling, U.S.A. (RET) left us peacefully on Saturday, December 31, 2016, at home in Hancock. He had been living with cancer for the last five years and fought every battle with bravery, humor and physical and mental strength that kept us strong and set the tone for everyone around him.

He amazed and humbled us every day with his attitude and confidence. Some people may say that he lost his battle to cancer, but we say he won and cancer lost.

It wreaked havoc with his body but it didn’t touch the man he really was. He never let it beat him down, he never let it stop him from laughing, or from loving his family, or from enjoying every moment that he could to the fullest.

James was born on October 2, 1965, in Great Falls, Montana, to Milo H. Shilling and Teruko June (Mayaki) Shilling.

He is survived by his wife, Laura (Desotell) Shilling of Hancock; sons, Parker Shilling (Brandy Ryan) of Minnesota and Thomas Shilling of Hancock; and daughter, Jillian Shilling of Hancock; his mother, Teruko, of Michigan; his brother, Milo J. (Rhonda)  Shilling, of Michigan. He is also survived by several nephews and a niece, all of whom he loved very much, as well as a brother-in-law, Drew (Sarah) Desotell, of Wisconsin; and sister-in-law, Amy (Desotell) (Jason) Buckingham, of Texas.

James was preceded in death by his father, Milo H. Shilling; his father-in-law, Donald Desotell; his mother-in-law, Marilyn (Marineau) Desotell; his uncle, Herbert Shilling; cousin, Gale Shilling; and other uncles, aunts and cousins in the U.S.A. as well as in Japan.

James enlisted in the U.S. Army Infantry in 1988, and served for nearly 27 years, retiring in 2014, as the Operations Sergeant Major for U.S. Army Europe. He loved being a soldier, and his favorite part was being able to lead, mentor and work with the soldiers around him.

His proudest moment as a soldier was presenting the blue Infantry cord to his son, Parker, at his Turning Blue ceremony at Ft. Benning, Georgia. During his years in the Army, James served during the Cold War, as well as in Kuwait, Korea, Bosnia and two tours with the fourth Infantry Division in Iraq.

He was a First Sergeant with B. Co. 1-5 C.A.V. at Ft. Irwin, California. He received many awards, including the Expert Infantryman Badge, the Legion of Merit, two Bronze Stars, the Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge and the Order of St. Maurice. His first unit, and his unit affiliation was with the ninth Infantry Division, the Manchus, Keep up the Fire!

As an avid woodworker, James loved building, making and fixing things. He also loved going camping with his family and spending the day out on the water in his boat, or just being outdoors in general.

Indoors, he had fun playing video games with his kids, or talking with his son in Minnesota about anything and everything.

James touched the lives of everyone around him, with his motto of “Do the right thing, not the easy thing.” This sometimes drove us crazy, but mostly it drove us to be better people, as he lived this motto himself and set the example with his family, his hard work and willingness to do the dirty jobs alongside of even the newest Private.

His life was too short, but it was very full. We are blessed to have known him and he will be missed by many.

There will be a visitation at the Jukuri-Antila Funeral Home in Hancock, on Thursday, January 12, 2017, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

James will be buried at Arlington National Cemetery, with details to be announced when finalized.

In lieu of flowers, James requested that any donations be sent to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, to help give more tomorrows to his very special niece, Hazel Mae.

Arrangements are being handled by Antila Funeral Service, Inc.

Online condolences may be expressed to the family at antilafuneral.com.