Obituary for
James E "Jim" Stratman
Stratman, James E. “Jim” age 80 years of Bennington, NE
preceded in death by son Bruce.
Survived by wife Aggie; Sons and daughters-in-law Jim, Jr. and Janece of Bennington, Mike and Pam of Valley, Rick and Joi of Ft. Calhoun, NE, and John and Andrea of Columbus, NC; daughters and sons-in-law Deb and Paul Sornson of Wichita, KS, Denise and Steve Olsen of Lyons, CO, Julie and Paul Dotzler of Booneville, MO and Melissa Stratman of Boulder, CO; 34 grandchildren and 31 great grandchildren; brother Paul of Minneapolis, MN; Visitation Wednesday 2 to 8 PM with family receiving friends from 6 to 8 PM; Funeral Thursday 10AM all at the funeral home; Interment German Cemetery; Memorials to American Lung Assc or the family for later designation; condolences to www.reichmuthfuneralhomes.com
Reichmuth Funeral Home
21901 W. Maple Rd 402-289-2222
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Life Story for James E "Jim" Stratman
Jim Stratman was born on April 13, 1936 to Frederick and Bertha Braasch Stratman in Omaha, NE and passed away December 11, 2016 at his home in Omaha. He was the youngest of 12 children.
When Jim was young and still going to school, he also worked odd jobs to help his mother, as his dad passed away when Jim was just 10 years old. When he was 18, he met the love of his life, Aggie. They were married in January of 1956 and have shared 61 years of life and memories together. In late November of that same year, the Stratman family began to grow, and over the course of the next 17 years, Jim and Aggie had nine children.
Together, they built a new house for their family in Omaha in 1960. But they soon outgrew their home and in order to try to provide an even better life for his family, coupled with his love for the country, Jim moved his family to their farm outside Omaha in 1971. Jim worked as an electrician for Miller Electric for nearly four decades, then in his ‘spare time’ farmed their 120 acres with the help of his sons.
Jim was an electrician and a farmer, but first and foremost, he was a husband, a father, and a mentor to all of his children and grandchildren. He was proud of all his kids and always pushed them to be their best. In 1997, Jim lost his son Bruce, and had to again be the solid foundation for the whole family.
Jim retired in 1991 due to health reasons and was never able to return to the workforce. While his health issues slowed him down over the years, he never really stopped working. In the last few years, Aggie and his kids were there to assist him but he was the type that never wanted help or to be a burden, and never complained of these difficulties but instead, took them in stride. After years of lung issues, he has now left us to be with the Lord, where he can finally walk, even run, with reckless abandon.
Jim was preceded in death by his son, Bruce, his parents and 10 siblings. He is survived by his bride of 61 years, Aggie; sons Jim, Jr. (Janece) of Bennington, Mike (Pam) of Valley, Rick (Joi) of Ft. Calhoun, and John (Andrea) of Columbus, NC; daughters Deb (Paul) Sornson of Wichita, KS, Denise (Steve) Olsen of Lyons, CO, Julie (Paul) Dotzler of Boonville, MO, and Melissa Stratman of Boulder, CO; 34 grandchildren, 31 (and counting!) great-grandchildren; and one brother, Paul, of St. Paul MN.
