Jim Rothschiller

James (Jacob) E. Rothschiller of Prior Lake, Minnesota, passed away peacefully on June 19, 2026, after a 10-year battle with cancer.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Thursday, July 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM with visitation one-hour prior, at Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church (3611 Berens Road NW) in Prior Lake, Minnesota. Pastor Laila Barr will preside, and Jim's grandchildren will act as urn bearers. The service will be livestreamed (link will be added soon). Interment will take place at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Mandan, North Dakota, at a later date. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to First Lutheran Church in Rugby, North Dakota, or Shepherd of the Lake Lutheran Church in Prior Lake, Minnesota.

Jim was born on May 16, 1934, in Bismarck, North Dakota, to Frank and Elizabeth Rothschiller. He was one of eleven children born to this union. Jim graduated from Mandan High School in 1952 and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1953 to 1957, receiving an Honorable Discharge as a Staff Sergeant.

Jim married his high school sweetheart and the love of his life, Arlyne Breuer, on September 19, 1955. They were truly inseparable until her passing on March 1, 2023.

Following Jim’s discharge from the Air Force, they made their first home in Riverside, California, where Jim served as a Captain with the Riverside Fire Department. In 1969, Jim, Arlyne, and their sons, James and David, moved to Rugby, North Dakota, where Jim owned and operated Rothschiller Construction Company until 1990.

Not ones to truly retire, Jim and Arlyne later started Heritage Restoration & Antiques by JR, which they operated until 2007. Jim continued pursuing his passion for furniture refinishing until 2016, when they moved to Prior Lake, Minnesota, to be closer to James’ and David’s families.

Jim enjoyed the challenge of taking on a new role or project, whether that meant building a successful career or business in a field he knew little about, purchasing and restoring lake cabins, or bringing antique furniture back to its original beauty and function. At heart, Jim was a creative and hardworking entrepreneur.

Jim’s final “career” was as the hired man for Johnson Farms — the family his son David married into. He loved helping with spring work and hauling grain during harvest.

Jim loved his annual Canadian fishing trips with his sons and friends, where countless memories and experiences were created. Jim also enjoyed hunting with his sons and grandsons, watching his grandchildren participate in activities and sporting events, reading, spending summer weekends with family at their Lake Metigoshe cabin and enjoying its beautiful sunsets, traveling to Norway, Germany, and Mexico, and spending 13 years volunteering with the Theodore Roosevelt Medora Foundation.

Jim was active in his church, community, and state. He served for several years on the Church Council at First Lutheran Church, on the Pastoral Call Committee, and as an advisor and mentor for Luther League youth. Within the community, he also served as an advisor to the volunteer fire department and as a board member of the Pierce County Historical Society. Jim also served on the Board of the North Dakota Land Improvement Association, including as its’ president.

Jim was known for always sharing the right words of concern and wisdom at just the right time. His steady presence, quiet strength, generous spirit, and deep love for family touched the lives of many. He will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Arlyne; twin daughters, Deborah Raye and Denise Faye; his parents; his mother- and father-in-law; and all of his siblings.

Jim is survived by his sons, Jim (Sandy) and Dave (Jody); grandchildren, Derek (Megan) Rothschiller, Lauren (Tony) Reed, Jordan (Victoria) Rothschiller, Lindsay (Logan) Rudstrom, and Brock (Kirsten) Rothschiller; great-grandchildren Scout, Blair, and Baker Rothschiller; Ryder and Blake Reed; Dean Rothschiller and Kepler Rudstrom; sister-in-law, Marion Helbling; brother-in-law, Ed (Dalas) Breuer; along with many nieces, nephews, relatives, and dear friends.