James "Jim"

D. Cobb

James "Jim" Dale Cobb, 85, of O'Neill, died Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025 at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha.

Visitation will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 16, 2025 at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 17, 2025 at Assembly of God Church in O'Neill. Pastor Mike Durre will officiate. 

Burial will be in the O'Neill Cemetery in O'Neill with military rites conducted by the O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post 93.

Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.

James was born on Jan. 4, 1940 to James and LaFay (Volk) Cobb in Osmond. Growing up, he attended school in Randolph through his freshman year. He and his family then moved into Norfolk, where he attended Norfolk High School. He graduated with the class of 1958. Throughout high school Jim sang in choir and in a quartet. He often talked about enjoying his time helping his dad as a carpenter.

Jim met and married Gloria Oss in Norfolk in 1958. To this union three children were born Lee, Susan and Nancy. The couple later divorced.  

Jim started working as a dental technician in 1958.  

He later married Vickie Hansen and to this union two children were born Troy and Angie. They later divorced.  

He moved to Mitchell, SD, where he worked at Bauer Dental Lab. Jim then moved to Kalispell, MT, and worked for Wood Dental Lab before moving to O'Neill in the 1980's. He owned Cobb Dental Lab for 32 years.  

On May 5, 1995 Jim married Shirley Moeller at Ft. Randall, SD.  He gained three more daughters Jennifer, Amanda and Kelly. Jim later retired in 2015.

Jim was a member of the O'Neill Fire and Rescue for 35 years and an EMT for 15 years, he was also a member of the Nebraska State Volunteer Firefighters Association. He was a member of Elks International, Optimist Club, Cyclone Motorcycle Club and a member of the South Dakota Skydivers Club. During his career in the National Guard, Jim helped with many tragedies, including the Rapid City Flood of 1972.

He enjoyed motorcycle racing, stock car racing and also enjoyed snowmobiling in South Dakota and in the mountains of Montana. Jim was an accomplished scuba diver. He trained in the military and he was a certified demolition-recovery diver. He also enjoyed hunting, fishing and archery.

Jim is survived by his wife of 30 years Shirley Cobb of O'Neill; seven children Susan (Bruce) Buhler of Watertown, SD, Nancy (Steve) Mennis of Brookings, SD, Troy (Lacey) Cobb and Angie (Jason) Self, all of Ft. Collins, CO, Jennifer Nekolite, Amanda (Josh) Nekolite and Kelly (Chris) DeSive, all of O'Neill; 25 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; four great-great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Lee Cobb in 1993, his grandson Nick LeBlanc and his sister Imogene (Paul) Thelen.