Chadrad.com

Graveside services for James “Jim” Dobry, age 99, of Rushville will be at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, May 6, 2015 at Fairview Cemetery in Rushville, NE.

A memorial has been established. Donations may be sent in care of

Security First Bank, PO Box 550, Rushville, NE 69360.

Online condolences may be left at www.chamberlainchapel.com.

Jim died May 3, 2015 at Crestview Care Center in Chadron. He was born February 8, 1916 in Verdigre, NE. After graduating high school, he worked at Nebraska’s CCC Camp, where he cooked for almost 30 people at a time, making $25 a month. He saved $5, while his parents got $20. Later on, James went on to Gordon, where he cooked at one restaurant and washed dishes across the street at another, making $1 a day.

Eventually, James moved to work as a cook at the Pine Ridge Gerber Hotel, where he met his future wife, Buzz, of 60+ years. The couple ran a canteen on the Navaho Indian Reservation for a short time before James was drafted into World War II. During the war, James spent time in California building planes at Douglas Aircraft and was eventually deployed to the Philippines as a bookkeeper.

After the war, James made it back to Pine Ridge, and then moved his family to Rushville. There he bought a filling station, built an ice cream drive-in, laundromat and trailer park. He, his wife, and their only daughter ran all of these businesses together. James also managed the grocery store in town during this same time.

Once he left the grocery store business, James ended up working in Soil Conservation, where he surveyed and built dams. Later on, he spent time planting trees in those long strips we see driving along the highway throughout the Panhandle counties.

James was a man of many talents. He traveled the world, walking most of it as he would say. He worked in carpentry, could fix things electrical or plumbing, and had many other handyman skills. He said he had done everything but bartend and preach.

Jim was preceded in death by wife Buzz, his parents, and three brothers. He is survived by daughter Judy & husband Edward Bolek, granddaughtersTemple Garman, Shauna Beguin and Jama Bolek, great-grandchildren Kent Janicke and wife Jamie, Baily Swanso and husband Loren, Teale Beguin, Trace Beguin, Brookley Garman and Shane, 3 great-great-grandchildren, sister Grace, and many nieces and nephews.

Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home of Gordon is in charge of arrangements for James “Jim” Dobry.