James A. Bergstrom

Celebration of Life Services for James A. "Jim" Bergstrom will be held on Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 11:00 a.m. at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Murray Jones and Chaplain DeWane Dow officiating.  Private Family Interment will be held prior to services at the Salem Cemetery in rural Kearney County, Nebraska.

James A. Bergstrom, 90 years of age, of Holdrege, formerly of rural Axtell, Nebraska, passed away on Thursday, October 1, 2015 at the Christian Homes Care Community of Holdrege.  Jim was born August 6, 1925 on the family farm southwest of Axtell in Phelps County, Nebraska, the only son, and the second of four children born to Carl Earl and Verna Mabel (Leafgren) Bergstrom.  He received his primary education from the Phelps County District #15 Country School, northwest of Wilcox and later graduated from Wilcox High School with the class of 1943.

On March 17, 1946, he was united in marriage to Margaret Lucille Brown at the Trinity Evangelical Free Church by the Reverend Paul Cassell.  The couple was blessed with two children: Stephen James and Susan Kay.  The family engaged in farming and made their home on a farm north of Holdrege in the Holcomb area.  The family enjoyed the many friendships in the area and Christian fellowship within the Holcomb Evangelical Free Church.  In 1958, they moved back the family farmstead in rural Axtell, where Jim was born and raised.  Jim continued his passion of farming and raising livestock, and Margaret could often be found working side-by-side with Jim on the farm.

Jim was a longtime devoted member of the Trinity Evangelical Free Church, where he was baptized, and held many offices including:  secretary, treasurer and was a trustee when the new church was built.  On September 28, 2005, he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret.  Jim continued to reside on the farm.

On September 1, 2006, he was united in marriage to Arlene (Wittfoth) Casteel at Jim's farmstead near Axtell.  They spent two wonderful years together.  When they both began to experience failing health, they began to make their home at the Christian Homes Care Community.  Arlene preceded him in death on October 30, 2010.

Besides his parents and wives, Margaret and Arlene; he was preceded in death by brothers-in-law:  Richard Carlson, John Campbell, and Harold Reed.

He leaves to celebrate his life; his two children:  Steve Bergstrom and his wife, Kathy of Axtell and Susan Trotter and her husband, Donald of Coweta, Oklahoma; six grandchildren:  Brian Bergstrom and his wife, Jenice, Kevin Bergstrom and his wife, Gwen, Karl Bergstrom, Jeff Luker, Cody Luker and his wife, Kendall, and Tara Hollingshed and her husband, Brandon; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters:  Lois Carlson of Holdrege, Mary Lou Miller and her husband, Cal of Gothenburg, Nebraska and Kathrine Reed of Long Beach, California; along with many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

There will be no visitation.

A memorial has been established in Jim's honor and kindly suggested to the Trinity Evangelical Free Church-Building Fund or the Gideon's International.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.