Jim E Stevens

Jim E. Stevens was born in Hastings, Nebraska to Lyle and Jean Stevens on May 30, 1947. He attended Sunday School and was baptized at the Waterloo Church of Christ in 1962. Growing up in Omaha, Jim played a trombone in the 4-H Band; loved riding in go-cart derbies, and was a Cub Scout. He graduated from Benson High School in 1965, and then attended Kearney State College for two years majoring in plastics. On May 3, 1968, he married Linda Kuehn in Blair, Nebraska at the First Christian Church. When their oldest son, Brian, was born, he went everywhere with his dad. Brian is married to Laurie and they have two boys, Tyler 14 and Trevor 11, and they live in Austin, Minnesota. Their youngest son, Tod, was born almost 6 years later. Tod is married to Frances and they have son, John 18, and daughters Jenny 14 and Samantha 7, and they live in Winslow, Nebraska. Both Brian and Tod work for Hormel. In addition to his two boys and five grandchildren, Jim is survived by his wife, Linda; parents Lyle and Jean Stevens of Omaha; and sister Diane Bartos of Redmond, Washington; and three nieces. Through the years, Jim worked at his dad’s Deluxe Body shop, was a mechanic at Caterpillar, made and repaired boats at his company, Omaha Fiberglass, was a Sergeant for the Douglas County Sheriff‘s Department, was Captain on the River Belle cruise boat, and was a salesman for Yankton Radiator, Peet’s Feeds, Kuker Industries; and Priefert Manufacturing. Linda and Jim then traveled the country for the past 9 years as mobile vendors selling western wear at rodeos, horse events, country music festivals and livestock shows. They have many wonderful mobile vendor friends who have helped tremendously the past two years of Jim’s illness. Jim loved hunting and fishing throughout his life but never seemed to have the time to do enough of it. His favorite things were watching his boys show Shorthorn Cattle, living in the country, watching his grandsons play sports (hockey, football and baseball), scuba diving, tending to his garden, cruising in his Sea Ray on the Missouri River, and watching old westerns and TV shows. He also loved Husker Football and even when he could barely climb the steps this year, he did make one game. For the past 10 years or so, Jim learned to love to cook - Emeril and the Food Network got lots of attention from him. He also loved to smoke those Hormel ribs all day, and he never got to enter a barbecue contest as he had hoped to do. Another thing he enjoyed besides his John Deere tractor and his dog, Gus, was his big red truck and trailer that traveled with him and Linda throughout the USA. We will always remember Jim in his pressed and starched blue jeans and western shirt, belt buckle, black cowboy hat or ball cap and his cowboy boots. He will also be remembered as a hard worker that could build or fix anything. He was never lazy and instilled his tireless work ethic in his boys. Jim lost his battle with lung cancer at home on February 25, 2009 at the age of 61. His greatest regret when he was diagnosed with terminal cancer, was not seeing his grandchildren grow up. Although it was difficult for him to always show his emotions, he was so proud of his boys, and he loved his family with all his heart.

Jim E Stevens

May 30, 1947 - February 25, 2009