James “Jim” Kirkpatrick, 86

James “Jim” Kirkpatrick passed away on Sunday, August 6, 2023 at High Plains Alzheimer’s Special Care Center in Lincoln.

Jim Burchell Kirkpatrick was born on August 28, 1936, in Ainsworth to John and Mary (Burchell) Kirkpatrick and was raised on the family ranch in the Niobrara River valley. He attended Ainsworth High School where he excelled in track and field, running on 880 yard relay teams that were undefeated state champions for two years and finishing third in state in Class B in the 440 yard dash. He graduated from high school in 1954 and enlisted in the Marines. He went through basic training at Camp Pendleton, California and served in Hawaii, finishing his enlistment as a corporal.

He met Ellie Rogers in Hastings, NE where he was stationed at the ammunition base, and she was doing a rotation of psychiatric training at a Hastings hospital. They were married on June 8, 1959, in Ogden, UT, and enjoyed 55 years of matrimony.

Jim returned to operate the family ranch in Brown County until 1995 when he and Ellie moved to a ranch north of O’Neill in Holt County where they actively ranched until 2005. He was a proud and active Democrat his entire life and served on the local school board, the ESU #17 board for 24 years, the township board, and the fire district board. He was an active member of the Ainsworth Congregational Church and later the First United Methodist Church in O’Neill. Jim enjoyed ranching and did so in an era that saw the evolution from haying with a team of horses and selling cream at the creamery in town to the modern day. He loved animals, particularly his dogs, and avidly followed Husker football and current events. He loved his children and grandchildren, and was able to meet his great-grandson before he died.

He is survived by his five children, Julie Brown and special friend, Todd Carpenter, of Paxton, NE, JoAnn (Jeff) Walthour of Mansfield, OH, their children, Sara (Sean Strader), Jon (Purity), Katie (Gavin Chase), Befkadu, and Eyerusalem, Jeff Kirkpatrick and Glenda Pierce of Lincoln, NE, and their son, Ryan (Isabelle Duerr), Bryce and Rini Kirkpatrick of Ft. Collins, CO, and their daughter, Caroline, and Blair Kirkpatrick of Aberdeen, SD; two great-grandchildren, Atlas Strader and Robin Chase; sister, Rose Marie Kirkpatrick of Arnold, CA; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Ellie Kirkpatrick; his parents, John and Mary Kirkpatrick; his brother, John Kirkpatrick; two sisters, Myrna Beatty and Lenora Fay; nephew, Boyd Newbold; son-inlaw, Kenny Brown; and grandson, Tony Kirkpatrick.

Funeral Services for James Kirkpatrick, age 86, of Lincoln and formerly of Ainsworth and O’Neill, were held on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at the O’Neill Methodist Church with Pastor Bob Wynn and Pastor Blair Kirkpatrick officiating. Burial was in the Ainsworth Cemetery with military rites provided by the Ainsworth American Legion Post #79. Memorials may be directed to the Nature Conservancy or to the O’Neill Methodist Church or his family for future designation. Arrangements are entrusted to Biglin’s Mortuary in O’Neill.