James Nidy

James Nidy, known as Jim by his friends and as Papa, Papa Jim, Daddyo, or simply Dear Old Dad by his family, passed away at the age of 84 on May 9, 2025. He died peacefully at Maplewood Nursing Home in Prairie du Sac, surrounded by his loving children. 

Jim was born on April 6, 1940, to Dorothy and Harold Nidy in Rogers City Michigan. He is predeceased by his younger brother Tommy Nidy. After earning a degree in Geology from Michigan Technological University and a masters degree in Education from Western Michigan University, he pursued a career in teaching. He taught Earth Science for more than thirty years at James Madison Memorial High School in Madison, where he also helped found School-Within-a-School, an alternative education program offering a smaller, personalized learning environment.

Jim was greatly loved as a father, grandfather, and friend who touched the lives of many with his sociable personality, his great gift of gab, and his mischievous sense of humor. Jim made significant contributions to his various communities with his lifelong love of playing music, singing, and acting. He was an active participant at the Mazomanie R&R Community Theater over the years and was celebrated for his annual Christmas performances at the Sauk-Prairie Optimist Club. After retiring from teaching, he volunteered as a mentor at Grand Avenue Elementary and Tower Rock Elementary schools. 

A lifelong lover of nature and the outdoors, Jim was passionate about fishing and hunting. He could be found in the woods year-round, silently observing, listening, foraging his favorite mushrooms and, during hunting season, with rifle or bow in hand. He loved living in the Baraboo Hills, sharing his knowledge of the unique geologic rock formations, and being a strong advocate for nature conservancy.  

With his passion for music and performing, Jim needed little persuading to pull out a guitar (or banjo or ukulele), to entertain any gathering with folk classics or his infamous collection of bawdy songs. He and his wife, Janet Mangin, an accomplished pianist and piano teacher who predeceased him, enjoyed seeing live music on the square in Madison, attending jazz or classical concerts together and going dancing at the Firehouse Restaurant in Prairie du Sac.   

Jim is survived by his children, son Erik Nidy and his fiancée, Jennifer Jarman; daughter Ellen Nidy and her husband, Tim Capron; his grandchildren, Owen Nidy and Oscar Capron; his step-children, Wendy VanDinter and Jason VanDinter; step-grandchildren Cody VanDinter, Josh VanDinter, and Delaney VanDinter; and his 5 great-grandchildren: Dawson, Kasidy, Brody, Brooklyn and Kashtyn. He is also survived by his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Dave and Donna Mangin as well as his beloved dog, Bailey, and cats, Dottie and Randy. 

Jim will be deeply missed, but his spirit will live on in Pine Hollow. If you would like to honor Jim with a donation in his name, his favorite organizations were: The Nature Conservancy (www.natureconservancy.org) and PBS Wisconsin (www.pbswisconsin.org).