Jim N. Peters Obituary (1925 - 2014)

Jim N Peters, 89 years of age, of DeWitt passed away Monday morning, December 8, 2014 at the Beatrice Community Hospital in Beatrice, NE. He was born 26 May 1925 in Scottsbluff County NE to Nick and Elpis Peters, the 3rd of 9 children. He graduated from Bayard NE High School in 1943. He served in the U.S. Army from 1943-1945 as an MP in Korea after the end of WW II, processing the Japanese military prisoners. Jim attended UNL and was a member of the football team until injured. After he graduated at mid-term in 1951, he taught industrial arts and was an assistant coach at both Plattsmouth NE and Seward NE High Schools. He was married to Doris Dunn of DeWitt NE on Aug 21, 1949, and they celebrated their 65th anniversary in 2014. They moved to Bayard NE in 1953 where they farmed. In 1955 they moved to DeWitt NE to a farm which was homesteaded by Doris's Great Grandfather James Plucknett and where they have since made their home. Jim raised registered Shropshire sheep and served 9 years as director on the Board of the National Shropshire Association. He was Superintendent of the Sheep and Wool at the NE State Fair for 2 years. Jim was a member of the DeWitt United Methodist Church and a charter member of DeWitt Grange #429. He was the manager of the annual Grange Community Sale for many years. He served on the curriculum committee in planning for the new Tri County School. Jim and Frank Runty were the co-chairs of the Grange project to seed grass and landscape the Tri County School. He and Leonard Smith were co-founders of the Dry Creek Go-Getters 4-H Club. Jim served as the club leader for 25 years. He represented Grange #429 on the basin policy advisory committee for Section 208 Water Quality Management Plan for the State of NE. Jim and Doris were on the Oak Grove Cemetery board for 23 years. They worked with Endicott Clay Products in designing and executing the Oak Grove sign at the cemetery. Jim also managed the planning and building of the cemetery directory. Jim was President of the DeWitt Historical Society for many years. He enjoyed repairing and remodeling the museum buildings to make suitable display areas for the historical collections. Jim and his family traveled first in a home-made camper to Expo '67 in Montreal Canada. Later Jim and Doris had a motor home where they enjoyed meeting other family members at various destinations. They also visited Hawaii, Alaska, CanCun, England, Washington D.C. and a cruise from Istanbul Turkey to Athens Greece. Jim was a gifted craftsman. He could build, repair, weld or fix anything. Jim enjoyed collecting and restoring John Deere tractors. As he found himself more in retirement, he became interested in the scroll-saw craft. He made crosses of an intricate design in black walnut grown on the farm. Many of his crosses were given as birthday, graduation and wedding gifts. Several were given to area churches and one is on the altar at the Wilber Care Center. Jim is survived by wife Doris, sons Greg and wife Moya Peters and Andy and wife Barbara Peters, both of DeWitt, daughters Nancy Hastings and husband Robin of Las Cruces NM and Susan Burns and husband Gary of Albuquerque NM. Grandchildren Mickella Brabec and husband Brad, Norfolk NE, Alicia McCune, Lincoln NE, Chris Peters and wife Kim, DeWitt NE, A.J. Peters, LaVista NE, Sara Frede, Chicago IL, Ben Frede, Lincoln NE and Keighley Hastings, Sunnyvale CA. Great-grandchildren Garrett, Alaina and Sophie Philgren, Ellie, Isabelle and Livia Peters and Rylee McCune. Jim was preceded in death by parents, brothers Pete, Bill, Gus and wife Hazel, sister Sophie and husband Alex Fotinakes, sister-in-law Vangie Peters. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Friday, December 12, 2014 at the DeWitt United Methodist Church with Reverend Cathy Burchett and Reverend Carl Lent officiating. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, DeWitt. The body will lie in state Thursday from 1-9:00 at the Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt with the family greeting friends from 7-8:00, and at the church one hour preceding the service on Friday. A memorial has been established to the DeWitt Fire and Rescue Unit and the DeWitt Historical Society with Gaylen and Marna Conn in charge. A family prayer service will be held at 10:15 AM Friday at the church. Sign Jim's online guest book at www.ghchapel.com. These services have been entrusted to the Venrick-Griffiths-Hovendick Chapel in DeWitt.