James E. Brenn

Mass of Christian Burial for James E. "Jim" Brenn will be conducted from the All Saints Catholic Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Tuesday, August 30, 2011 at 2:30 p.m. with Father Thomas Lux, officiating. Rosary/Wake Service will be held at the church at 1:00 p.m. prior to the Mass. Interment will be held in the Prairie Home Cemetery at Holdrege.

James E. "Jim" Brenn, 70 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Friday, August 26, 2011 at the Phelps Memorial Health Center in Holdrege. Jim was born April 30, 1941 at Hebron, Nebraska, the third of four children born to Claude and Bernice (Bevington) Brenn. He received his education at Hebron, graduating from Hebron High School with the class of 1960. He then pursued higher education at the Fairbury Jr. College at Fairbury, Nebraska and then Peru State College at Peru, Nebraska, where he played football. After college, Jim played semi-pro football for the Lincoln Comets and Omaha Mustangs. Following his education, Jim began a career in Education, teaching and coaching at Spalding Academy.

On July 16, 1966 he was united in marriage to Emily Marie Dolce at Spalding and to this union three children were born: Thomas, Luke and Anne. The couple made their home in Spalding for many years, where Jim continued teaching, coaching, served as an EMT, was a volunteer fireman, and worked in construction for 14 years. He also served as Mayor of Spalding for four years. In 1980, the family relocated to Holdrege, where Jim was a self-employed contractor and founded JEB Construction.

Jim loved sports, and spent many years coaching his children in football, basketball, and softball. A highlight of his coaching was winning the State Softball Championship with Anne's 14 year old team. Later in years he especially enjoyed following his grandchildren's activities. He also enjoyed tending to his yard and gardening and was an avid Husker fan. Jim also enjoyed his coffee time with his friends at the Cozy Inn and the County Cookin.

He was preceded in death by his parents; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Mick and Margaret Dolce; one brother-in-law, Duane Gillham; one great-grandson, Kale Soneson; and one nephew, Brad Gillham.

Jim is survived by his wife, Emily of Holdrege; three children: Tom Brenn and his wife, Shelley of Holdrege, Luke Brenn and his wife, Peggy of Arlington, Nebraska, and Anne Cullen and her husband, Kevin of Dallas, Texas; five grandchildren: Brent Soneson and his wife, Abbie, Ethan Soneson and his fiancé, Kaylie Hollertz, James "Hunter" Brenn all of Holdrege, Alexa Brenn and Hailey Brenn both of Arlington; two brothers: Robert Brenn and his wife, Dee of Phoenix, Arizona and William Brenn and his wife, Linda of Deshler, Nebraska; one sister, Carolyn Tolley and her special friend, Robert Pilgrim of Bellevue, Nebraska;
brother-in-law, John Dolce and his wife, Mary of Naples, Florida; sisters-in-law: Jill Gillham of Castle Rock, Colorado and Marlynn Scheef and her husband, Jerry of Spalding; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation will be held on Monday, August 29, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in his memory and will be designated at a later date.

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.