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Earl James "Jim" Custard, age 82 of Blair, passed away Sunday, January 5, 2020 at home, surrounded by his loving family. Funeral services will be held Friday, January 10, 2020 at 11 AM at St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Military graveside services will follow in the Blair Cemetery. Visitation will be held Thursday, January 9 at Campbell Aman Funeral Home with family receiving friends from 5-8 PM.

Jim was born on March 29, 1937 the son of Merrill "Kink" and Dorothy Custard. Jim attended Wranch school and then graduated from Omaha North High School. After high school, Jim joined the United States Marines and was honorably discharged in 1963. On December 4, 1993 he was united in marriage to Connie Engelke. The couple made their home in Blair and are longtime owner operators of the Blair Bakery. One of Jim's fondest memories was his trip to Hawaii for his birthday. Jim enjoyed hunting, his time on the river and spending time with his family and friends.

Jim is survived by his wife Connie; children: Michael (Monica) Custard, Scott Custard, Lori (Jon) Martin, Tim Mann and John (Jennifer) Mann; grandchildren: Wyatt Walker, Mason Mann, Noelle Kyral and Paige Kyral; as well as many extended family and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, mother and father-in-law Tim and Erna Engelke, sister Mariliyn (Sam) Nanfito.

#2-Published in the Omaha World Herald January 7, 2020

Custard, Earl James "Jim" March 29, 1937 - January 5, 2020 Age 82 of Blair, passed away at home surrounded by his loving family. Survived by wife, Connie; children: Michael (Monica) Custard, Scott Custard, Lori (Jon) Martin, Tim Mann and John (Jennifer) Mann; grandchildren: Wyatt Walker, Mason Mann, Noelle Kyral and Paige Kyral; as well as many extended family and countless friends. Preceded in death by his parents, Merrill "Kink" and Dorothy Custard; mother and father-in-law, Tim and Erna Engelke; sister, Mariliyn (Sam) Nanfito. FUNERAL SERVICE: Friday, January 10, 11am, St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church in Blair. Military graveside services will follow in the Blair Cemetery. VISITATION: Thursday, January 9, at Campbell Aman Funeral Home, family receiving friends from 5-8pm.

#3- Published in the Pilot-Tribune January 14, 2020

Jim Custard never met a baked good he didn't like.

“He loved them all,” his wife, Connie, said. “There was nothing he didn't eat.”

Now, half of Jim and Connie's Bakery is gone. Jim passed away Jan. 5. He and his wife owned the bakery for 30 years, baking side by side.

"It's going to be a big loss,” Connie said through tears.

Trading a wrench for a rolling pin, Jim moved from work as a mechanic to becoming a baker. He and Connie met when she worked at Mr. C's Steakhouse in Omaha. They bought the bakery and were married for 25 years.

Jim baked bread, doughnuts, cakes, anything you can think of.

"Any time a family member or acquaintance passed away, Jim was there within hours with a big box of donuts for the family," said Don Woodring, Connie's cousin. "That always amazed me. I don't think he ever missed anyone."

Connie's son, John, does some of the baking at the store.

"He could do anything in there because he had a good teacher," Connie said.

While Jim dealt with medical issues, the community of Blair stepped up to support the Custards. In late November, the community gathered to buy out the store so Connie could spend more time with Jim.

"It was awesome," said Connie. "I've never seen anything like that. We have a lot of good people in this town. What a surprise."

Blair resident and friend Bob Tichota said Jim was fun to visit with.

"He had so many stories about his life from a long time ago,” Tichota said. “He was a very caring person, loved people, it was a pleasure to go to the bakery in the morning and see him."

Jim was a former U.S. Marine and member of the Jackson-Peck American Legion Post 274 in Herman, according to Carl Lorenzen, who met Jim through the bakery.

"He was a proud Marine, served in country during the Vietnam War and was proud of his service," Lorenzen said. "He was one of the good guys."

Dave Woodring, another cousin of Connie, said Jim had a sense of humor.

"He laid on the floor once behind the counter waiting for Phyllis Green to come in," Dave said. "He grabbed her by the ankle when she went by."

When Jim wasn't busy baking, he could be found on the water, according to Don Woodring.

"He loved the river," Woodring said. "They had a cabin in Tekamah before it flooded. He liked to turkey hunt with a bow a lot of times. There was never a dull moment with him."

Blair resident and friend Ernie Brenneis would talk to Jim frequently at the bakery.

"He would talk to anyone. I can't tell you how many times we'd sit and he'd talk a little about his time in the service," Brenneis said. "He would talk about hunting and fishing — he'd talk your leg off if you'd let him. He was just a joy to be around."

Jim was born March 29, 1937, and graduated from Omaha North High School. He joined the U.S. Marines and was honorably discharged in 1963. Jim is survived by his wife, Connie; children, Michael (Monica) Custard, Scott Custard, Lori (Jon) Martin, Tim Mann and John (Jennifer) Mann; grandchildren, Wyatt Walker, Mason Mann, Noelle Kyral and Paige Kyral; as well as many extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, mother- and father-in-law, Tim and Erna Engelke; and sister, Mariliyn (Sam) Nanfito.

Funeral services were held Friday.

#4 Funeral Leaflet

Custard, Earl James

Funeral Leaflet

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In Loving Memory of Earl James “Jim” Custard Born March 29, 1937 Blair, Nebraska; Entered Into Rest January 5, 2020 Blair, Nebraska

Funeral Services 11:00 AM Friday, January 10, 2020 St. Francis Borgia Catholic Church, Blair, Nebraska. Officiating: Father Mark McKercher. Organist: Ambrose Terneus. Vocalists: Jim Crotty, Don Vanecek, Heather Beal, Scott Wachter. Musical Selections: “Be Not Afraid”, “Prayer of St. Francis”, “Amazing Grace”

Pallbearers: Don Woodring, Dave Woodring, Duane Woodring, Kenny Wulf, Brian Lewis, Kenny Petrone

Graveside Service: Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska

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

Find a Grave Memorial #205996558