James Bernard Hersh, 85, of Lexington, Nebraska, passed away at Elwood Care Center in Elwood, Nebraska on Thursday, July 18, 2024.
He was born on August 19, 1938, in Red Cloud, Nebraska to Delmer and Mary Anna Belle (Kish) Hersh. He was the oldest child of four sisters and three brothers. He attended grade school at District 9- Webster County and Inavale, Nebraska school until it closed and graduated from Red Cloud High School in Red Cloud, Nebraska with the class of 1956. Following high school, he served in the United States Marine Corps at Camp Pendleton in California from 1956 to 1958. He then attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln for one year before transferring to Kansas State College in Manhattan, Kansas, completing his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in June of 1965.
James met Marilynn Schaus while they both attended Kansas State College and were united in marriage on June 11, 1966, in WaKeeney, Kansas. Two children were born to this union: Brian and Beth. James and Marilynn shared 58 years of marriage. James practiced veterinary medicine from 1965 to 1979 in South Dakota and Nebraska. From 1979 to 2001, he worked the USDA-FSIS, retiring in 2001 from IBP in Lexington.
James was a faithful member of the Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington, serving as a past member of the Trustee committee and Lutheran Laymen's League Group when assistance was needed. He was also a member of the Lexington Rotary Group, receiving the esteemed Paul Harris Award which recognizes those that have contributed to the Rotary Foundation and also assisted with the distribution of dictionaries for the Lexington third grade students yearly. For several summers (June through October) he managed the Lexington Farmer's Market.
He is survived by his loving wife, Marilynn Hersh of Lexington; children, Brian Hersh of Manchester, Tennessee and Beth Hersh-Goslin (Mick) of Fort Calhoun, Nebraska; four sisters, Angela Duca of Red Cloud, Nebraska, Barbara (Donald) Saladen of Grand Island, Bevelee Bornemeier of Lincoln, and Margaret (Roger) Gatz of Hiawatha, Kansas; three brothers, Rodger (Jody) Hersh of Red Cloud, Richard (Debra) Hersh of Inavale, and Gregory (Jill) Hersh of Red Cloud; three grandchildren, Isabella (John) Viano of Martinez, California, Alainie Hersh and Cooper Danielson of Columbia Falls, Montana, Jasmine Goslin of Omaha, Nebraska, and one great-grandson, James Viano of Martinez, California as well as extended family.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his in-laws, Edgar and Martha (Yantz) Schaus as well as many good friends and distant relatives.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lexington with Pastor Rob Kuefner, officiating.
A private family inurnment will be held at Greenwood Cemetery in Lexington.
In lieu of flowers, memorials are kindly suggested to the family for later designation.
Reynolds-Love Funeral Home in Lexington is honored to be assisting the family with arrangements. Please share online condolences with the family by visiting: reynoldslovefuneralhome.com