**UPDATE**
A Memorial Service for James P. Schendt age 84 of Ainsworth, Nebraska will be held on Saturday, (January 15, 2022) at 10:00AM at the St. Pius X Catholic Church in Ainsworth. Inurnment will follow in the Ainsworth Cemetery with Military Honors by Ainsworth American Legion Post #79.
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James Paul Schendt was born June 27, 1937 in Norfolk, Nebraska to William J. and Sophia A. (Andrewjeski) Schendt and died December 22, 2021 at the age of 84 at his home in Ainsworth, Nebraska.
The family lived in Omaha, Nebraska from 1938 to 1947 until they moved to Grand Island, Nebraska. Jim graduated in 1955 from St Mary’s High School. On his 18th birthday, he began his 37 years of employment with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, retiring in 1992 from US West Telephone Company. Jim enlisted in the US Navy Seabees in February 1959, and was honorably discharged in January of 1963.
Jim and DeAnn Schwieger were united in marriage on October 10, 1959 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church in Grand Island. and were blessed with four children. Jim was stationed at Port Hueneme, California with the Seabees, and they lived in Oxnard, California until his discharge. They returned to Nebraska, living in McCook and Holdrege before being transferred to Ainsworth, Nebraska in 1966 with Northwestern Bell Telephone Company.
Jim and DeAnn spent 17 summers at their cabin in the Black Hills of South Dakota during which Jim enjoyed trout fishing, riding his 4-wheeler, attending the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, and entertaining family. He loved to travel, and they have gone to Hawaii seven times, taken an amazing trip to Alaska, visited Niagara Falls, toured the National Parks in Utah, spent three winters in Arizona, and taken many other trips across the country. Jim was a member of St Pius Catholic Church and also served 25 years with the Ainsworth Volunteer Fire Department.
James was preceded in death were his parents; brothers, Robert (Eleanor) and Francis (Patricia) Schendt; sister, Mary Lou Twehous; and nephew, Dale Twehous.
Survivors include wife of 62 years, DeAnn of Ainsworth; children, Douglas Schendt of Taiwan, Jami (Benny) Burdick of Johnstown, Nebraska, Brenda (Mike) Winkelmann and Bruce (Kim) Schendt of Omaha; nine grandchildren, Kelsey (Tony) Vigilante of Dallas, Texas, Zachery Schendt of McKinney, Texas, Kale (Kayla) Burdick of O’Neill, Nebraska, Trey (Brianna) Burdick of Central City, Nebraska, Lauren (Gordon) Bryant of Omaha, Devin Winkelmann of Omaha, Taylor Schendt of Omaha, PJ (Nisha) Bellinger of Boise, Idaho, and Kristy (Nick) Pentico of Pasco, Washington; seven great-grandchildren, Pierce and Hayes Burdick, Harper and Easton Burdick, Callie Vigilante, and Brinley and Emersyn Bryant; sister, Shirley Schendt of Sterling Heights, Michigan; brother-in-law, Raymond Twehous of Denton, Texas; sister-in-law, Sheryl (David) Herman of Blair, Nebraska and numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. Memorials may be made to the family for future designation.