James ""Jim Daniel Mowry

James “Jim” Daniel Mowry, 80 of Gering, Nebraska passed away Wednesday, November 25, 2009 at Regional West Medical Center. His funeral service will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at the First Presbyterian Church in Scottsbluff with Pastor Brad Gustafson officiating. Interment will follow at East Lawn Cemetery in Minatare with military honors performed. Visitation will be Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Dugan Kramer Funeral Chapel. Memorials may be given to FARM museum, North Platte Valley Museum or to the church. James “Jim” Daniel Mowry was born on June 24, 1929 on a farm northeast of Minatare, NE. He and his twin brother are of eight sons and one daughter born to Henry and Edith (McLean) Mowry. He attended Sunnyside School until the family moved to Minatare in 1938, where he received his education. Jim worked for various farmers and at 20 years of age started working for City Plumbing at Minatare. He met and married Wanda Steffensmeier December 23, 1950 in Minatare, NE. In August of 1951, he was drafted into the U.S. Marine Corp. He attended Sea School at Camp Pendleton in Oceanside, CA and was stationed aboard the Philippines Sea serving as a Honor Guard. After receiving an honorable discharge, Jim returned to Bayard, where Wanda had been teaching school and had built a new home. He joined the First Presbyterian Church at Bayard. After military service, Jim worked for City Plumbing in Minatare and in September 1958, he and Wanda purchased the Johnson & Orr Plumbing shop in Bayard and later operated the J& W Plumbing shop there. He and Wanda sold the shop and moved to Scottsbluff, where Jim was employed with U.S. Supply Co. He later joined Midwest Farm, where he sold wells, pumps and Lockwood Irrigation sprinklers. Later he joined Rider Drilling Co. The last 20 years of his career he was Sales Representative for Great Salt Lake Mineral & Chemical Co. of Salt Lake City, Utah serving areas of CO, WY, SD and NE. Jim was later promoted to Field Sales Manager for GSL. He was top salesman for several years and won trips to Hawaii, Caribbean and Mexico. During retirement, Jim worked for Asmus Bros. Auction Co and also Helberg & Nuss Realty & Auction Co. He restored six Studebaker cars, pickup and a Mail Van. Jim won numerous local and regional awards for his restoration and first award at the Studebaker International Show for his 1951 Studebaker Convertible. He belonged to the Western Wheels Studebaker Drivers Club; Conestoga Chapter of Denver, Dakota Chapter of South Dakota, Wyoming Chapter & the International Drivers Studebaker Chapter. Jim was a Life time member of the Elks Lodge #1367, member of the North Platte Valley Museum and the FARM museum. He also was a Past officer in the Bayard Jr. Chamber of Commerce and Past President of the Wyoming Feed and Grain Association. He was Past President of the Panhandle Saddle Club of Scottsbluff and active in the cowboy polo team. He attended Auction School in Billings, MT in June 1986. The high point of his retirement was working with Don Helberg and Mike Nuss auctioneers. His love in life was watching his daughters and their families succeed. Jim is survived by his steadfast and loving wife of 58 years and 11 months Wanda; children: Stephanie Ann (John “J.C.”) Shrader of Nebraska City, NE and Jan Leigh (Doug) Klein of Atwood, KS; grandchildren: Ty Jacob (Josie) Shrader of Nebraska City, NE and Heath Lee Klein of Atwood, KS; great grandson: Jaxton Cody Shrader; brothers Joe “Wes” (Darlene) Mowry of Nampa, Idaho, Gerald Mowry of Gering, Bill (Mabel) Mowry of Riverton, WY and Henry C. Jr. “Hank” (Betty) Mowry of Hot Springs, SD; brother-in-law Harold Goetzinger (Karen) of Riverton, WY; sisters-in-law Joann (Harold) Mowry of Scottsdale, Arizona, Leona Mowry of Gering, NE and Violet Mowry of Scottsbluff and numerous nieces and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Henry C. and Edith McLean Mowry, brothers Kenneth, Eugene and twin brother Harold, sister Esther Elaine Goetzinger, sisters-in-law Elizabeth Ann, Jo Ann and brother-in-law Marvin Steffensmeier and his grandson Cody Daniel Klein.