James Jim Edward Gommels

Funeral services for James Edward “Jim” Gommels will be held Tuesday June 4, 2013 at Crawford- Bowers Funeral Home in Copperas Cove at 10:30am with burial to follow at Central Texas State Veteran's Cemetery in Killeen with military honors.

James "Jim" Gommels, 60, of Copperas Cove died May 27, 2013 in Loma Linda, California.

Jim was born May 19, 1953 in Carthage, Illinois to Dale Edward Gommels and Mary Haage Gommels.

In 1979 he was united in marriage to Carol Lynn Fein. They were divorced in 1989. They had one child, Philip Michael Gommels. Jim and Carol remained good friends and she was with him when he passed away.

Jim graduated from Lake City High School in Lake City, Iowa in 1972.

He came to Copperas Cove in the late 1970s while serving in the U.S. Army as a mechanic. After two tours of duty in Germany, he settled in Copperas Cove, where he called his home for the rest of his life.

In his time away from work, Jim could often be found in the local cafe or diner, drinking coffee and talking with friends.

His family wrote: "Jim was a generous man. Unless he was buying a new tool for his next project, he rarely kept his money for himself. He gave freely of his time and treasure."

Jim is survived by his son Philip Gommels of Houston, daughter Katrina Gommels of Copperas Cove, brother Eldon Gommels of Keokuk, Iowa, sister Tresa Feldman and her husband Tony of Carroll, Iowa, and sister Mary Ellen Gumm and her husband Steve of Pine, Colorado.

He is preceded in death by his parents and step-father George Beck.