James Harris

Jim Harris, age 94, of Aurora, died Saturday morning, March 20, 2004, at St. Francis Hospital in Grand Island.

Funeral Services will be held at 10:30 A.M., Tuesday, March 23rd at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. Rev. Seth Leypoldt will officiate. Interment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 8 P.M. Monday at Higby-McQuiston Mortuary. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: JAMES HARRIS

James A. Harris, the son of David William and Hattie (Dawdy) Harris, was born in Otoe, Iowa on March 16, 1910 and died in Grand Island, Nebraska on March 20, 2004, at the age of 94.

He grew up in Silver Creek and attended Silver Creek High School, where he enjoyed playing football. He helped out on the family farm as well as working for other farmers in the area. As a young man, Jim and several other members of his family played for barn dances in the Silver Creek area. Jim was a fine violin and fiddle player.

Jim was united in marriage to Victoria (Vicki) Wandro on November 28, 1934. Jim was a truck driver and because of his job the family lived in the following states: Nebraska, Missouri and Minnesota, before settling in the Sidney, Nebraska area. Jim then went to work as a truck driver for the Union Pacific Freight Line. He retired from U.P. in 1972. Jim then went on to own and operate a Kirby Sales and Service Store in Lexington for many years. Vicki passed away on May 25, 1987.

On August 16, 1988, Jim was united in marriage to Margaret Garrison in Las Vegas, Nevada. When Jim retired from the Kirby Store, they moved to Aurora. They enjoyed traveling to many different states including Alaska and Hawaii. One of their favorite pastimes was dancing and attending functions at church and the local Senior Center.

Jim was a member of the Aurora United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife Vicki; son, James "Joe" Harris; step-son Don Carrico; two brothers, Richard and David Harris; a granddaughter and great-granddaughter.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Margaret Harris of Aurora; five daughters, Pat (Roland) Brauer of Norfolk, Rita (Donald) Wegner of Lexington, Jeri (Udell) Podliska of Norfolk, Marcia (Tom) Friesen of Lincoln and Louise (Robert) Bettenhausen of Lincoln; 19 grandchildren and 37 great-grandchildren. He is also survived by two sisters, Stella Gundell of Merrill, Iowa and Clarice Anderson of Homer.