James (Jim) Edward Schutz passed away on Sunday morning, August 21, 2016 at Havelock Manor in Lincoln, Nebraska. He was 74 years of age.

He was born in Lincoln, Nebraska on February 18, 1942 to Joyce E. And Lora S. (Haveman) Schutz and lived and farmed all of his life near Avoca. He graduated from Avoca High School in 1960, and he was a member of First Lutheran Church North Branch of Avoca.
Jim met his wife Linda L. Hamer from Lincoln, Nebr. at the Elms Ballroom in 1962 and they were married September 6, 1963. To this union, two daughters were born - Jennifer Lynne Hurt (Kevin) Lincoln, Ne and Janine Louise Schutz, Omaha, Nebr. There are three grandchildren - Hannah Lynne Hurt, Hogan James Hurt, and Haxton James Hurt, all of Lincoln, Nebr.

Jim lived a very full life in his younger years, playing basketball, baseball, fishing, water skiing, snow skiing, snowmobiling, camping. He loved dancing, going to the dances at Elms Ballroom in Syracuse every chance he got. In the winter time, he loved playing cards, especially 4 point pitch. But when spring came, his greatest love of all was GOLF. After he learned how to play, he was avid about it, golfing in four leagues and practicing in his shop in his spare time. He was good enough at the sport that he got a hole in one -Twice.

Jim was employed as a mechanic at Ash Grove Cement Co. in Louisville, Nebr. for 30 years, along with farming 240 acres and raising 500 head of hogs from start to finish. He also was a member of the National Guards in Nebraska City from 1965 to 1971. Later on he built a Filter Cleaning Business and cleaned filters for big equipment such as trucks, earth moving vehicles for Ash Grove and other companies.

Jim was very innovative - coming up with and constructing ways to make it easier for him to run his one man operation on the farm. He would go to the State Fair every year, look at all the new ideas for farm equipment that was there, and then go home and make the ones he thought he could use. He really enjoyed doing this.
Jim is survived by his wife of almost 53 years, two daughters, one son-in-law, and 3 grandchildren, sisters-in-law Barbara Edmondson, Virginia Beach, Va., Patricia Kitchen, Lincoln, Ne., Helen Kelly, Lincoln, Illinois, and Mary Koci (Mike), Seward, Nebr., Brother-in-law, Ed Hamer (Joyce), 13 nieces and nephews, and many great nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, parents-in-law, Ed and Doris Hamer, Lincoln, Ne., brother Fredric and wife Verena, Syracuse, Ne., brothers-in-law Robert J. Hamer, Yaak River, Mt. and Andy Edmondson, Virginia Beach, Va.,niece Susan Burbach, Lincoln, Ne and Nephew Thomas Edmondson, Virginia Beach, Va.

A memorial service is planned to celebrate Jim's life for Saturday, August 27, 2016 10:30 a.m. at First Lutheran Church, Hwy 50, Avoca, Nebr.

Please celebrate with us by attending and sharing memorable stories you've experienced with Jim in his lifetime.