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James E. “Jim” Stratman, age 80 years, of Bennington, NE was preceded in death by son Bruce; survived by wife, Aggie; sons and daughters-in-law, Jim, Jr., and Janece of Bennington, Mike and Pam of Valley, Rick and Joi of Ft. Calhoun, and John and Andrea of Columbus, NC; daughters and sons-in-law, Deb and Paul Sornson of Wichita, KS, Denise and Steve Olsen of Lyons, CO, Julie and Paul Dotzler of Booneville, MO and Melissa Stratman of Boulder, CO; 34 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; brother, Paul, of Minneapolis, MN.

Jim Stratman was born on April 13, 1936, to Frederick and Bertha Braasch Stratman in Omaha, NE and passed away December 11, 2016, at his home in Omaha. He was the youngest of 12 children.

When Jim was young and still going to school, he also worked odd jobs to help his mother, as his dad passed away when Jim was just 10 years old. When he was 18, he met the love of his life, Aggie. They were married in January of 1956 and have shared 61 years of life and memories together. In late November of that same year, the Stratman family began to grow, and over the course of the next 17 years, Jim and Aggie had nine children.

Together, they built a new house for their family in Omaha in 1960. But they soon outgrew their home and in order to try to provide an even better life for his family, coupled with his love for the country, Jim moved his family to their farm outside Omaha in 1971. Jim worked as an electrician for Miller Electric for nearly four decades, then in his ‘spare time,’ farmed their 120 acres with the help of his sons.

Jim was an electrician and a farmer, but first and foremost, he was a husband, a father, and a mentor to all of his children and grandchildren. He was proud of all his kids and always pushed them to be their best. In 1997, Jim lost his son, Bruce, and had to again be the solid foundation for the whole family.

Jim retired in 1991 due to health reasons and was never able to return to the workforce. While his health issues slowed him down over the years, he never really stopped working. In the last few years, Aggie and his kids were there to assist him but he was the type that never wanted help or to be a burden, and never complained of these difficulties but instead, took them in stride. After years of lung issues, he has now left us to be with the Lord, where he can finally walk, even run, with reckless abandon.

Visitation is Wednesday from 2 to 8 p.m., with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 p.m.. Funeral is Thursday at 10 a.m., all at the Elkhorn funeral home. Interment at German Cemetery. Memorials to American Lung Association or the family for later designation. Condolences to www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com.

Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, is in charge of arrangements.

#2 Omaha World Herald 14 Dec 2016

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Stratman, James E. "Jim" Age 80 Of Bennington, NE. Preceded in death by son Bruce. Survived by wife Aggie; sons and daughters-in-law, Jim, Jr. and Janece of Bennington, Mike and Pam of Valley, Rick and Joi of Ft. Calhoun, NE, and John and Andrea of Columbus, NC; daughters and sons-in-law, Deb and Paul Sornson of Wichita, KS, Denise and Steve Olsen of Lyons, CO, Julie and Paul Dotzler of Booneville, MO and Melissa Stratman of Boulder, CO; 34 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; brother Paul of Minneapolis, MN. VISITATION Wednesday, 2-8pm with family receiving friends from 6-8pm; FUNERAL Thursday, 10am all at the Elkhorn funeral home. Interment German Cemetery. Memorials to American Lung Assoc. or the family for later designation. Condolences to: www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com REICHMUTH FUNERAL HOME 21901 West Maple 402-289-2222

#3 Funeral Leaflet

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In Loving Memory of James E. Stratman, Sr.

Birth April 13, 1936 Omaha, Nebraska ~ Death December 11, 2016, Omaha, Nebraska

Funeral Services 10:00 AM Thursday, December 15, 2016 Reichmuth Funeral Home, Elkhorn, Nebraska. Minister: Pastor Dave Collins. Special Music by Deb Reno: “O Come, All Ye Faithful”, “I Bowed On My Knees and Cried Holy”, “Silent Night”

Pallbearers: Nate Stratman, Bryan Campbell, Matt Stratman, Lauren Stratman, Eric Sorenson, Chris Stratman, Josh Olsen, Micah Dotzler, Rachel Stratman Southard

Interment: German Cemetery, Bennington, Nebraska

Memorials are suggested to American Lung Association or To the Family for Later Designation

~~~Obituaries and funeral leaflet courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings and leaflets on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska~~~

FindaGrave # 173868230