Ira M. 'Jim' DeWalt, Jr., 96

Ira M. “Jim” DeWalt, Jr. was born to Dr. Ira M. DeWalt, S r. a nd D r. G race P . Wagner-DeWalt in Wisner, Nebraska. His first b reath o n earth w as d rawn o n O ctober 24, 1 928. H is first b reath of h eaven w as drawn on October 12, 2025.

Jim received all of his primary education and m ost o f h is s econdary e ducation i n Wisner. In 1945, during the summer between his junior and senior years of high school, J im and h is p arents m oved t o Ainsworth and Jim graduated from high school in Ainsworth in 1946.

After g raduation f rom h igh s chool, Jim w orked at G il’s A uto B ody Shop a nd t he S tudebaker d ealership, b oth i n A insworth, u ntil he volunteered to serve in the US Army during the Korean War.

Jim served two years (1951 to 1953) in the Army and was stationed at C amp C rowder, M issouri; F ort R iley, K ansas; a nd the A tlanta (Georgia) General Depot.

After completing his service in the Army, Jim returned to Nebraska and attended Norfolk Junior College (now Northeast Community College) and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, receiving his Bachelor’s Degree in 1958 from the latter institution.

Jim moved to Norfolk to begin working at the Nebraska Department of Labor (then called the Employment Office). He was the Veterans’ Employment Representative: he helped people (veterans and non-veterans) find jobs. He met his future wife, Jan Bramon, in that endeavor. When Jan was no longer his client as she had moved to Lincoln, Jim contacted Jan and began their love story. They wed on February 12, 1965. They welcomed one child into this world, daughter Jennifer.

After e ight y ears w ith t he N ebraska D epartment o f L abor, J im moved to Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation to further his career; his role as Voc Rehab Counselor still involved him helping people find jobs. Jim remained employed by Vocational Rehabilitation until his retirement in 1990.

Jim was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. He was also a long-standing member of the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge of Ainsworth.

Jim was widely known as a quiet, understated man unless he was behind the wheel or in the garage, at which times all bets were off. On those occasions, colorful language, which has become the stuff of lore over the decades, emanated from Jim with ease and frequency. In addition to creative cussing, Jim was known for telling jokes, reciting his many memorized limericks, his love of cars (especially antique autos) a nd playing c ard g ames, and loving his f amily. J im a lso loved traveling w ith h is family. I t w as h is l ife’s g oal t o t ake h is wife a nd daughter to visit each state in the Union before his daughter graduated from high school: that lofty goal was achieved but for one state, Alaska. Thereafter, Jim and his wife continued to travel and added foreign locations among their destinations. Ireland was their favorite of all the destinations that they visited.

Jim is survived by his wife, Jan DeWalt of Norfolk; daughter, Jennifer DeWalt (Gene Geihsler) of Norfolk; brother-in-law, Bob Bramon of Norfolk; feline daughter, Moonie DeWalt of Norfolk; grandkitties, Lily and Daisy DeWalt of Norfolk; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, James DeWalt; infant sister, Priscilla DeWalt; three brothers-in-law, Duane Funk, Kenny Funk, and Bob Beed; four sisters-in-law, Barb Funk, Phil Funk, Lucy Bramon, and Gayle Beed; canine son, Maximillian Von Goddard DeWalt; feline daughter, Flannel DeWalt; cavy grandpig, Mrs. B. DeWalt; feline granddaughter, Fauna DeWalt; and grandkitties, Sebastian and Alexander DeWalt.