Thelma B. James

Thelma B. James, 99, of Wakefield, Nebraska died on Thursday, July 8, 2010 at the Wakefield Health Care Center in Wakefield, Nebraska. The funeral service for Thelma will be held on Monday, July 12, 2010 at 10:00 a.m. at Salem Lutheran Church in Wakefield; Pastor Bill Koeber will be officiating. The visitation will be held on Sunday from 3:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the Bressler ~ Munderloh Funeral Home in Wakefield. The family will be present from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Burial will be in the Wakefield Cemetery. Thelma Bonita James was born to Noble Sherman and Celia (Hutchings) Dixon on May 15, 1911, on the family farm near Emerson, Nebraska. She grew up on her parent’s farm. On February 10, 1927, Thelma was married to Elias Clinton “Tye” James. They divorced in March of 1961. She began working at Waldbaum’s in 1962. She retired from there in 1979. Thelma lived with her daughter, Sylvia Magnuson Olson, and helped to raise Sylvia’s three children. She was able to live with her daughter until March of 2007, when she moved to the Wakefield Health Care Center. Thelma was a member of the Salem Lutheran Church, WELCA, Salem Quilters ad Salem XYZ, where she served as President for 10 years. She loved flowers, gardening, animals, Crocheting and embroidering. She was a feisty lady with a wonderful sense of humor and love of live and family. Thelma, affectionately known as “Granny” by family and friends is survived by her daughter, Sylvia Olson of Wakefield, Nebraska. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Robert Magnuson of Alexandria, Virginia; Richard Magnuson of Sioux City, Iowa; Lori Kurtz (Bill) of Colorado Springs, Colorado; Bob James (Pat) of Palm Coast, Florida; Christi Elbert (Larry) of Louisville, Kentucky; Lori Corbet and her husband of Louisville, Kentucky; Rhonda Chandler (Chris) of Austin, Texas; Lisa Morrin (Michael) of Wellington, Florida; Alan James of Houston, Texas; Shannon Hickman (Scott) of League City, Texas, and also three step grandchildren: Gilbert Frey (Linda) of Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska; Curtis Frey (Carol) of Emerson, Nebraska; and Jalayne Keyes (Kevin) of Pilger, Nebraska. She is also survived by 16 great grandchildren, five step great grandchildren, three great great grandchildren, and five step great great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her son, Wilmer Cleo “Buzz” James, stepdaughter Lulu Frey, her parents and two sisters.