Submit a PhotoJames (Jim) William Nygren passed away in Chandler, AZ on 31 March 2026, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Denver, CO on 4 September 1946, Jim graduated from Machebeuf High School in 1964 and attended Regis College in Denver, where he received a B.A. in 1968. Later that summer, he married the love of his life, Lee Ann Haigler, and they remained married for 58 years. After serving in the U.S. Army between 1969 and 1972, including a tour in Vietnam, Jim returned to Denver where he and Lee began building a life together. He started as a bag boy at King Soopers supermarket and soon worked his way into a management position. In 1978 Jim and Lee moved to Mesa, Arizona when Jim was transferred to Fry’s Food and Drug.
In Arizona, Jim and Lee built a tight-knit family, which Jim loved above all else. He especially appreciated traveling with them, eating delicious foods, and drinking good bottles of wine. He was always attentive to the needs of others, constantly asking if anyone “needs anything?” Jim also served as a father figure to many of the children in the neighborhood. He had a fierce sense of loyalty to those around him.
This was also evident in his professional life. Jim worked for Fry’s and King Soopers, both part of the Kroger Company, his entire career. At Fry’s he held various titles including Director of Labor Relation, Director of Human Resources, and many others. In those roles he helped mentor countless employees, and his caring approach to management was made evident by the scores of former colleagues who came to visit as he underwent treatment for metastatic cancer.
In 2015, Jim was inducted into the Arizona Food Marketing Alliance Hall of Fame. The citation of accomplishments noted by the AFMA includes: heading the establishment of Fry’s customer loyalty program (VIP cards); serving as the merger coordinator between Fry’s, Smith’s and Smitty’s; creating Kids Korner Child Care Centers in several Fry’s locations; and negotiating numerous labor agreements between Fry’s and the United Food and Commercial Workers Union, the Teamsters, and the Bakery/Confectionary Unions.
Jim is survived by his wife Lee Nygren, a retired teacher with Mesa Public School; daughter, Megan E. Gilbert, a Nurse Practitioner at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Nursing Faculty at Arizona State University; Christopher James Nygren, Professor and Chair of the department of the History of Art and Architecture at the University of Pittsburgh. He is deeply beloved by his daughter-in-law, Chiara Montera and his son-in-law, Ryan Gilbert. He was immensely proud of his two grandchildren. Austin R. Gilbert joined the Marine Corps in 2025, and Austin received a promotion to Lance Corporal on April 1st, 2026, the day after Papa’s passing. His granddaughter Avery Gilbert attends Perry High School, and her love and affection gave Papa great strength.
Jim was the oldest of five children, all born and raised in Denver, Colorado. He will be deeply missed by Mike (Carol) Nygren of Santa Clarita, California, Dave Nygren (Louis) of Santa Barbara, California, Nancy (Frank) Gustafson of Parker, Colorado, and Timothy (Ev) Nygren of Littleton, Colorado. He loved his many nieces and nephews and has beamed with pride as the family expanded with the arrival of their children.
A funeral mass will be held at St. Timothy’s Catholic Church on Friday, May 8th at 10am followed by a celebration of life at Gilbert Memorial Park, beginning at noon. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to Hospice of the Valley. Jim would be greatly honored if you would spare a thought or prayer for him every time you swipe your Fry’s VIP card.
Print Obituary
Service Location
Chris, please accept our heartfelt condolences on the loss of your father. Liya and I are holding you and your family in our thoughts, and we hope you find strength and peace in the weeks ahead.
Words cannot describe what we are feeling. We are holding you in our thoughts and our hearts. Jim, you will always be here with us, laughing and enjoying life, RIP.
Caro Chris,
Deepest condolences for the loss of your father. We are close to you and your family in this difficult time.
With sympathy,
Cinzia e Alessandro Fava
I had such a tremendous respect for Jim. He was my “go to guy” when I had questions or needed his sage wisdom. You could always count on him for guidance, especially if asked in confidence. Few people in the industry garnered such respect. Jim will be sorely missed, yet memorialized in our hearts. Condolences to the entire Nygren family.
To the Nygren Family
I Worked with Jim for 28 years at Frys. I consider myself truly blessed for having meant him. He was truly a wonderful man and leader .He treated everyone with respect and compassion no matter what title you held.He led with honesty and integrity showing all what Frys core values truly should look like. He will be missed my many but really lives on in the associates he mentored and the ones that were fortunate enough to learn from him. Please know you are all in my thoughts and prayers. God Be with all of you.
Jim was a big part of my life at Fry’s. He was an amazing man who always had time for all of us. He was an amazing man who always made me feel important. He will be greatly miss but live on in the hearts of many.
Caro Chris,
our deepest condolences for the loss of your father. Our thoughts are with you and all your family.
Rinnovo le mie più sentite condoglianze per la perdita di un grande uomo, avevamo la stessa età. Un abbraccio a tutti voi
What a wonderful man! Jim was my first cousin. He always had the biggest Christmas tree with the most lights. We would go to Lakeside in the summers and he was the one to take us younger cousins on the “big” rides. Best memories ever! God bless you Jim for all your kindness. You walked this earth softly ❤️
Ciao Christopher, sono orgoglioso di aver conosciuto una persona speciale come Jim ! Lo porterò sempre nel mio cuore insieme ai miei cari !
Larry and I were saddened to hear of the passing of Jim. We enjoyed meeting him for breakfast on many occasions when we were out visiting family in Arizona. Jim was such a wonderful man we will miss him dearly. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult time.
Jim was such an humble and wonderful person, every moment spent with him was a sparkle of light and joyfulness, i will remember him forever.
Rinnoviamo le nostre piú sentite condoglianze a te Chris e alla tua famiglia.
Porteremo nel cuore Jim, un uomo educato, gentile, innamorato della sua famiglia e della vita, sempre pronto al sorriso.
Felici di averlo conosciuto, zii Piero e Laura.
Ho conosciuto Jim, insieme a sua moglie Lee, il 21 aprile 2011 quando sono venuti a Firenze per il matrimonio del loro figlio Chris con mia figlia Chiara. Nonostante la stanchezza per il lungo viaggio ha avuto sempre il sorriso e la contentezza per averci conosciuto. Il sorriso non gli è mai mancato anche negli incontri futuri, i suoi abbracci parlavano al posto dei problemi che avevamo purtroppo a causa della lingua, comunque penso che ci siamo compresi e che esisteva una solida intesa seppure a distanza. Sono molto dispiaciuta per la sua morte, ha lottato fino alla fine, sempre circondato dall’affetto dei suoi cari. Seppur lontana sono vicina a sua moglie Lee e vicina a Chris con tutto l’affetto possibile.
Jim and I served in the U. S. Army together for almost three years; our last assignment was in South Vietnam in 1970-71. We became good friends; in fact, I don’t know that I’ve ever had a better friend than Jim. He was a fine man – smart, kind, warm, generous, and understanding.
My sincere condolences to Lee and the rest of the Nygren family.
To me, he was and will always be my American dad. Daddy Jim had the ability to always make you feel loved and important, even from the other side of the world. The way he smiled at life has always inspired me, and I will keep him in my heart forever. Hugs to all his wonderful family