Jim Nicolotti, age 76, died on January 24, 2023, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He was born on February 20, 1946, in Witt, Illinois, to parents Louis and Helen Nicolotti. He grew up on a farm and was certainly a prankster. The funniest being when he and a cousin hoisted an animal onto the 2nd story loft of a neighbor's farm.

On April 24, 1965, he married Donna Keating in Nokomis, Illinois. They had three children, Michael, Tricia and Daniel. They shared 47 years of life together - entertaining, traveling, gambling, and spending time with their children and grandchildren before he suddenly lost the love of his life in 2013.

Jim had various jobs throughout the years - always looking to create something and recreate himself. Starting as a prankster on a farm, early on he got more serious in real estate in Springfield. In 1980, Jim and the family moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he was following his entrepreneurial spirt and chasing the oil boom. Clearly his spirt was high, but his timing was off, so he created a lawn care company, worked with ORU starting their real estate company, and then found his true passion in 1995 when he founded Galaxy Limousine with his daughter Tricia.
And entrepreneurship was certainly a family affair with all his different ventures, instilling a strong work ethic and innovative business sense in his children - and often their friends! They could be found selling cotton candy/snow cones, painting toy soldiers for Christmas, packing boxes as the Muffin Man, and wielding lawn care equipment.

Jim was dedicated to his children and their activities, and they could always count on their Dad to be in the stands cheering them on, leading the fundraiser, or supporting a run for office. He first got his CDL so he could drive the sports bus to the various events across the country. And during the holiday season, the Nicolotti house was always easy to find... awesomely overly done and lit up - winning the PSO Tulsa House of the Year in the late 90s.

His commitment to family and entrepreneurship was matched only by his dedication to community service and the Catholic faith. Jim served Sertoma in his young adult life in Illinois, where he held many offices and was the 1971 Sertoman of the year. When Donna and Jim moved to Oklahoma, they joined St. Bernard's Church, where Jim was an integral part of helping grow and fund various causes and charities during his 42 years - you could always find him baking, cooking, seeking donations, and chairing dinners or auctions. And in his later years, he proudly represented the Knights of Columbus, continuing to support all of their causes through both leadership and fellowship.

We all know Jim by his patriotic shirts and time at the casino. If he wasn't playing the slots, he was attending a concert or collecting a free giveaway. Even after he left ORU, he still enjoyed season basketball tickets, and he followed the local sports teams OSU/OU and the Dallas Cowboys. TV was always a beloved part of his life, and in the later days you could always count on the news broadcasting at a high volume. His passion for cable TV was so strong he actually got arrested in the early 80's because it wasn't available on his side of the street... so he tunneled under a public road to "borrow" from his neighbor across the street. Cox decided his commitment was high enough, so they installed it on his side of the street as well. His family and friends will always remember him as an entrepreneur, a leader, a family man, an eternal optimist, and a kind soul.

Jim is survived by his three children and six grandchildren. Michael and Jennifer Nicolotti, their son's Karsten and Kellan. Tricia and Rush Roberts, their daughters Elizabeth and Victoria. And Daniel and Billie Nicolotti, and their son's, Alexander and Zachary.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Helen Nicolotti, his wife, Donna Nicolotti, his sister, Nancy Fischbein, and his granddaughter, Kiera Nicolotti.

A viewing is scheduled for 5-7pm followed by a rosary on January 27, 2023 at Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel. A funeral mass is scheduled for 12 pm on January 28, 2023, at St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church.
Flowers can be sent to Fitzgerald Southwood Colonial Chapel, 3612 E 91st St South, Tulsa, OK, 74137. And memorial donations can be sent to St. Bernard of Clairvaux Catholic Church.