James Ballentine

James L. Ballentine, Sr., husband, dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa passed away on Friday, February 12th, 2021, at the age of 81. Jim was born in 1939 in Omaha, NE to Irvin and Dee Ballentine and raised by John and Dee Vegas in Milford, NE along with his sister Sharry. After graduating from Lincoln High school, Jim joined the Navy in 1958 and was honorably discharged in 1962. During this time he was based in Corpus Christi, TX. In 1959, he married Glenda F. LaFon and they raised four children together; daughters, Carol, Joannie, and Diane and son Jim, Jr.

While growing up in Milford, Jim enjoyed hunting and trapping along the Big Blue river - later in life he loved setting muskrat traps with his son. He held a variety of jobs during his school years that included detasseling, construction and setting pins at the bowling alley before there were automatic pinsetters! He played High School football in Milford and had good friends he stayed in contact with from school. Upon graduating from Lincoln High, he joined the Navy and was proud of his service to our great country.

After the Navy, the family moved to Lincoln where he first worked at Russell Stover Candies until he landed a job with the U.S. Postal Service. He worked for the Post Office for 20 years before he found his true passion, antiquing. Jim and Glenda spent over 30 years going to sales and flea markets all over the country and met many dear friends.

Jim was a Husker fan, an animal lover, softball player, Little Chiefs coach, and collector who loved his family dearly and unconditionally. He was a proud dad and grandpa that attended all of his children's and grandchildren's events. Because of his childhood upbringing, he had an open door policy. All four of his adult children came back home and stayed in his house at one point or another. He also invited in and helped raise 2 grandchildren and one great grandchild - truly a blessing to us all.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by: wife, Glenda; children, Carol (Mickey) Muthersbaugh, Joannie (Ron) Kohel, Diane McCormick and James (Jennie) Ballentine, Jr.; grandchildren, Nick and Samantha Muthersbaugh, Race and Maria Kohel, Jessie Clemens, Kylie, Taryn, Kaleigh, Ashlyn Ballentine and Lexi (Ruslan) Brychka; great-grandchildren, Roselina and DJ all of Lincoln; sister, Sharry (Rodger) Henke of Beaver Crossing; Many relatives and friends.