Jimmie Joe Newlun

Jimmie Joe Newlun, age 64, of Republican City, died Tuesday, September 23, 2003, at Phelps Memorial Hospital in Holdrege.

A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 A.M., Friday, September 26, at the United Methodist Church in Aurora. Pastor Lana Dake will officiate. Inurnment will be in the Aurora Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the donor's choice. Condolences may be e-mailed to the family through the mortuary website at higbymortuary.com.

OBITUARY: JIMMIE JOE NEWLUN

Jimmie Joe Newlun, the son of Earnest Ray 'Jack' and Ida Mae (Lee) Newlun, was born in Aurora, Nebraska on September 14, 1939 and died in Holdrege, Nebraska on September 23, 2003, at the age of 64.

He grew up in Aurora and graduated from Aurora High School in 1957. Jimmie entered the U.S. Navy shortly after completing high school for a two-year tour.

Jimmie was united in marriage to Jean Siddens on December 9, 1959. Two children were born to this union, Robert and Holly. When he returned from the service, he began working for the Burlington Railroad until 1964, when he went to work for the Grand Island Fire Department. During the seven years he worked for the fire department, Jimmie also found time to trim trees, build grain bins and be an employee for Cargill Seed Plant, United Rent-All Store and Bee Line Trucking. Jimmie returned to Burlington Railroad in 1971 as a locomotive engineer.

On October 23, 1983, Jimmie was united in marriage to Julianne Bucholz. Jimmie continued to work for the railroad in Lincoln and then in Republican City. He retired from BNSF Railway in 2001.

In June of 1997 while attending a Promise Keepers Convention with his son Bob, Jimmie committed his life to the Lord and from that day on, he read his Bible and prayed daily - walking faithfully in His word.

On March 6, 2002, Jimmie received news that he had colon and liver cancer and he was told that he had four to eight weeks to live. This news did not shake his faith and trust in the Lord, but it carried him to stand solid in his love for Jesus. He turned the news of his cancer over to the Lord, and through Jimmie's proclamation of faith and healing, the Lord blessed and touched the lives of many, many people for the past eighteen months. He truly was an example of a good and faithful servant.

Jimmie was a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Shriner's, where he was a "clown' known as Jimbo and preformed in events including the Shrine Parade. He also served as a DeMolay "Dad" for several years. He was a volunteer and was actively involved in the YMCA. He was Past President of the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers Local Union in Lincoln. Jimmie enjoyed archery, racing cars on a dirt track, and the outdoors where he loved to fish and hunt. He was interested in photography and took many pictures of wildlife and his grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister and two brothers

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Julianne Newlun of Republican City; son, Robert Newlun and wife Susan of Colleyville, Texas; daughter, Holly Carpenter and husband Michael of Lincoln; three step-sons, Chuck Bucholz and wife Gail of Omaha, Rick Bucholz of Portsmouth, Virginia, Jeff Bucholz and wife Amy of San Diego, California; step-daughter, Cathy Antillon of Henderson; 9 grandchildren; 17 step-grandchildren, 5 step-great grandchildren and his former wife, Jean Newlun of Lincoln.