James O. Boettcher

Atkinson — James Orren Boettcher, 85, of Atkinson, died Saturday, July 2, 2022 at Parkside Manor in Stuart.

Visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2022 at the United Methodist Church in Atkinson with a 5 p.m. prayer service.

Sunset funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 7, 2022 at the church in Atkinson. Pastors Wayne Owens, Jean Estill and Linda Lambert will officiate. Music will be provided by organist Terri Vrooman and soloist Leighton Mlady.

Pallbearers will be Jason Swanson, Jake Roberts, Joe DiNapoli, Kyle Boettcher, Michael Weichman and Trevor Roberts.

Honorary pallbearers will be Joe and Wilma Andrews, Butch and Wilma Dvorak, Bob and Sharon Mitchell, Ray and Wanda Herrington, Clyde and Darline Blake, Don and Geraldine DeGroff, Dwaine and Donna Tasler, Don and Darlene Schaaf, John and Helen Kitchens, all of Jim's grand and great-grandchildren and Riley, Parkside's care dog.

Burial will be in the Woodlawn Cemetery in Atkinson.

Memorials may be made to the local fire departments in Jim's name.

Seger Funeral Home in Atkinson is in charge of the arrangements.

Jim was born Jan. 13, 1937 to Fred and Florence (Clifford) Boettcher in Stuart, at the Wilson Hospital. He had a sister Donna and a brother Cliff, who passed away at the age of 18 due to a plane accident. Jim attended country school at Dist. 229 and graduated from Atkinson High School in 1955. He was president of his senior class.

On April 3, 1954 he married the sweetheart of his life Evadene Tasler his wife of 68 years. Together they had four children Rod, Bruce, Connie and Scott. 

Jim and Evadene loved to dance and were often seen at shop dances and dance halls in the area. One of Jim's many passions was flying his Super Cub airplane. He learned to fly at an early age with his brother Cliff and could be found in the sky checking pastures by plane or on a coyote chase with friends and neighbors.

Raising beef was his way of life. He joined his Dad on the family ranch where they raised Herford cattle for many years and eventually landed on raising Red Angus cattle. Jim was also a lifelong steward of land and water. In his time he doubled the acres of the ranch. Jim learned the art of drilling wells from area well men Don Krysl and Roger Kelly. He enjoyed putting down wells for neighbors with the help of his sons. Jim's special companions “Bingo and Tootsie” were always by his side or riding on the 4-wheeler with him.

Jim also had a mechanical mind. He was always improvising solutions and could find a way to build anything, from a steel haystacker to windmill towers to anything in-between. He owned a '72 Freightliner truck and enjoyed trips hauling cattle or loads of salt from Kansas for himself and neighbors. 

Jim employed many young men and women to work in the hayfield over the years, several of them having shared it was a valuable learning experience due to Jim's patient yet stern guidance. When his grandkids were of age, they become the next generation of hayfield crew and shared many memories of long hot days spent in the field with Grandpa.  After that he employed several older retirees to work the fields.

Jim served on several community organizations, Dist. 229 and West Holt High School boards, various cattle organizations, Holt County Zoning Board and was a parishioner and board member of the Atkinson United Methodist church. 

His word was always good with a handshake.

In 2007 Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Regardless of the progression of symptoms, he was able to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting Alaska with Evadene by his side. The kindness and helpfulness of new friends they met on their journey will never be forgotten.

Jim is survived by his wife Evadene; their four children Rod (Susan) Boettcher, Bruce Boettcher, Connie (Leon) Weichman and Scott (Joni) Boettcher; eight grandchildren Karma (Jason) Swanson, Kyle (Wittni) Boettcher, Amy Schaffer, Annie (Kyle) Anderson, Andrea Hardin, Mindi (Joe) DiNapoli, Michael Weichman and Melissa (Jake) Roberts; 12 great-grandchildren Gavin Swanson, Emmett Schaffer, Caden and Chance Anderson, Ava, Lane, and Luke Hardin, Mackenna, Quincy, and Kort Boettcher, Taylor and Trevor Roberts; one brother-in-law Dewayne Tasler; one sister-in-law Darlene Schaaf; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents Fred and Florence Boettcher, in-laws Bill and Amy Tasler, sister and brother-in-law Donna and Marvin Frisch, brother Cliff, sister-in-law Donna Tasler, brother-in-law Don Schaaf and most recently great–grandson Clayton Anderson.

The family would like to thank all of the many people who have played a part in Jim's life, especially those who have visited him or sent notes in his last five years as a resident of Parkside Manor. 

Please keep in your thoughts and prayers the family of Jim's great-grandson Clayton Anderson who passed away recently also. They will meet again.