James Nilson Mixsooke
Nilson was born on November 14, 1994 in Anchorage, Alaska, and welcomed by biological father, Wes Howard and then adopted by Reuben and Sharon Mixsooke. Nilson was the youngest of his siblings: Janice, Max, Cameron and Clayton Mixsooke. Shortly after, Reuben and Sharon adopted his younger siblings, Shawn and Chaleen. After 12 months of battling a very aggressive form of brain cancer, Nilson’s fight ended on February 19, 2025.
Nilson was raised in Unalakleet, Alaska, practicing a subsistence lifestyle that centered mostly around fishing. Nilson loved being out in the country whether it was with his dad and brothers or his friends. He attended Unalakleet Schools from preschool through high school and graduated in 2013. Nilson’s dad started teaching him how to use the computer before he turned two years old. He was always a quick study when it came to learning about technology. During middle school and high school, he attended Covenant Bible Camp; and as he got older, he helped the younger campers as a Junior Counselor. In high school, he joined basketball, volleyball, cross country running and NYO. He always enjoyed traveling with his teammates and competing.
When Nilson was 11 years old, he decided he wanted to form a relationship with his biological father. Thus, he began a journey of being loved and nurtured by two families, Wes and Katina along with Sharon and Reuben. Nilson enjoyed a fuller life than most, both enjoying the culture and experiences of growing up in Unalakleet and the more chaotic lifestyle of the bigger city. Nilson was loved by people of two worlds and benefited from learning the best from both.
After graduating high school, he took a year off and spent that time in Nome, Alaska. The following fall, he enrolled and attended the University of Alaska Anchorage where he was awarded a Bachelor of Arts in English.
In 2018, Nilson met his wife Jillian Stettenbenz while they both attended UAA. He told her on their very first date that he was already falling for her and knew one day he would ask her to be his wife. They were engaged in August of 2019 and planned to be married the following summer. However, due to Covid19, they married on September 18, 2020, on the beautiful Arctic Valley mountainside. On December 22, 2022, Nilson and Jillian welcomed their first son, Drew Laine Mixsooke. Jillian picked the name Drew, while Nilson picked the name Laine -after his favorite hockey player, Patrik Laine.
Nilson wore many hats, working a variety of jobs before he joined the U. S. Air Force. He worked as a fishing boat tender, painted houses, worked as a paraprofessional at the Nome Elementary school, interning with Bering Straits Native Corporation, Alaska Department of Corrections, and Yuit Communications. He spent many years working in social media and event coordination for BSNC and felt a tremendous amount of pride in serving his region. He always felt a large hole in his life for not joining the military, as his father Reuben embodied the ultimate role model for him after his service in the U.S. Army and his sacrifices in the Vietnam war as well, his biological father Wes Howard has served 10 years in the USAF.
From that point, he started to pursue the United States Air Force. He attended Basic Military Training in October 2023 at Joint Base San Antonio Lackland; graduating with Honors in November. He was named Dorm Chief in the 322nd Training Squadron, flight 008. As Dorm Chief, he was selected as the top trainee leader and was responsible for the entire flight to ensure they carried out all orders and instructions. He was also tasked with passing out the Airman’s Coin at the Coin Ceremony. Then he went to Tech School at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls, TX, from December 2023 to the end of January 2024 to become a Munitions Systems Specialist, often referred to as an ammo troop. He made a “dream sheet” of the bases around the world with the USAF that he would’ve liked to based at and JBER was in his top five. Jillian had high hopes of getting out of the cold, snowy winter of Alaska and somewhere warm-only to find out that he ended up getting stationed at JBER. Which was a blessing in disguise for all. Due to being a natural leader, he mentored numerous fellow Airmen at JBER- one of which rarely left Nilson’s side or the house. Due to his exceptional performance, positive impact on those around him and contribution to his squadron, Nilson was posthumously promoted to Senior Airman. Nilson once said that being in the Air Force was not like any job. He was born to serve and was excited every single day he put his uniform on. Nilson continued to serve actively throughout his illness, never letting himself be slowed or defeated.
When Nilson returned home in February after completing tech school was when he was officially diagnosed with a brain tumor. In April 2024, a resection and biopsy surgery were conducted, and the diagnosis was a grade 4 Astrocytoma. Shortly after recovering from the procedure, Nilson did six weeks of radiation and chemo. Showing his strength and resilience, he continued to run at least three miles a day and never willingly paused performing his duty and responsibilities for the Air Force or as a father and Husband. Through countless medications, infusions, monthly MRI’s and weekly blood draws, Nilson had never shown any fear or struggle. Nilson was a fighter to the very end and left this world with just as much fire in his spirit as he had when he came into it. He will be sorely missed by a great many people.
Nilson is preceded in death by his grandparents Franklin Mixsooke, Excelia Wilder, Nils Savetilik, and Evelyn Rynearson; father, Reuben Mixsooke and brothers Cameron and Clayton Mixsooke.
Nilson will be lovingly remembered by his wife of five years, Jillian, his two year old son, Drew, as well as a baby boy due in April; also by his mother, Sharon, siblings Janice, Max, Shawn and Chaleen; his father Wes (Katina) and numerous nieces, nephews and extended family members and many, many friends.