Jacquelyn James

Jacquelyn “Jackie” Louise James, 95, of Berne passed away on December 26, 2020, at Swiss Village. She was born October 2, 1925, in Falls City, Nebraska, to John and Mildred (Dye) Frehse. She was married December 25, 1944, to Dwaine James in Hiawatha, Kansas.
At the age of four, she moved with her parents to Humboldt, Nebraska. She attended the Humboldt Public Schools from 1931-1943. In her senior year (1943), she was chosen War Bond Queen of the Richardson County Fair. The couple established their home on a farm northeast of Humboldt. He died in a farm accident on November 14, 1986.
Jackie was an active member of the First Christian Church in Humboldt where she had been a Sunday school teacher, a group leader of the CWF, a choir member and a deaconess. She was very pleased with the plaque she received from the church for 60 years of friendship and support. She was a hard-working farmer’s wife and an awesome cook. She made pie almost every day for many years and she and Dwaine churned lots of homemade ice cream.
She was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She was also a very caring person. She spent a lot of time in the Hallmark stores searching for just the right card to send to friends and family for whatever the occasion (birthday, anniversary, illness, etc.). She also loved her “Huskers.” She did a lot of coaching from the living room while watching Nebraska football. She usually had her TV turned on to anything that had to do with every kind of sport.
In 1990, she moved to Berne to be near her daughter, son-in-law and their family. Family meant everything to her. Nothing brightened her day more than a visit from her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. She loved being around the little ones. She attended the First Missionary Church in Berne after her move from Nebraska to Indiana.
Those left to mourn her passing are her daughter and son-in-law, Diana (James) and Mack Smith of Portland; grandson, Michael Smith of Geneva; and great-granddaughters, Josie (Dustin White) Smith of Montpelier, Daphne (Jeremy) Schultz of Ossian, Jacqueline and Rosealynne Smith of Portland, great-grandson, Robert Kitterman; great-great-granddaughters, Mary and Lily; and great-great-grandsons, Asher and Macklin.
She was preceded in death by her husband, parents, parents-in-law, sister, brothers-in-law, sister-in-law and grandson, Kyle Smith.
The family will be having a private service at Downing & Glancy Funeral Home, 100 N. Washington St. Geneva on Thursday, December 31. She will be taken back to Nebraska for burial beside her husband in the Humboldt Cemetery in Humboldt, Nebraska.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the family hold a celebration of life service at a later date at the Humboldt Christian Church, 427 Central Ave. Humboldt, Nebraska 68376.
Arrangements are entrusted to Downing & Glancy Funeral Home in Geneva.