Jimmie LeRoy Spellman

Jimmie L. Spellman,88, died on Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at the Central Nebraska Veterans’ Home. A Memorial Mass will be on Wednesday, July 17, 2024, at 10:00 AM at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church in Shelton, Nebraska. Burial will follow in the Shelton Cemetery with Military Honors. Visitation will be on Tuesday from 5-7 P.M. at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church. Memorials are suggested to Shelton Volunteer Fire and Rescue and the Shelton Community Pool Project. Apfel Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.apfelfuneralhome.com.

Jim was born in Wood River, Nebraska on December 20, 1935. He was the third of six sons baptized into the Catholic faith as a child of Marvon and Ann (Wozny) Spellman. Jim and his family spent his early years in Western Nebraska before moving to Shelton in 1944. He graduated from Shelton Public Schools in 1954. Following graduation, he worked on the railroad for two years then joined the United States Navy in 1956. He spent two years on the USS Macon stationed on the East Coast. After discharge from the Navy, he worked for Rockwell International in Kearney for seven years. He opened "Spellman Service" in Shelton with his brother Bill In 1962. Their brother, Bob, later joined the business, which continued for 25 years. Following the sale of Spellman Service, he was employed by Shelton Township to maintain roads until he retired in 2000.

Jim was a proud member of the Shelton Volunteer Fire & Rescue for over 40 years and served on the Shelton Village Board for 8 years. He was a member of the American Legion Post #2: VFW and USS Macon reunion association. 

He married Sylvia Kay from Wood River on February 8th, 1957, in Grand Island. They had four children, 10 grandchildren, and 17 great grandchildren. Jim loved to know what was going on in Shelton as he would often be found cruising the streets with his dog running beside the vehicle and Judge Judy on the portable TV in the passenger seat. He was the biggest Bulldog fan and attended nearly every sporting activity his children and grandchildren participated in. Jim greatly enjoyed his final job of maintaining roads and his frequent trips to Menards. He was an avid fan of western movies and music as well as western novels. Jim especially enjoyed the sport of arguing with the gentlemen at the local coffee shop. More than anything, Jim loved to be surrounded by his family and hear the chatter and laughter of his children and grandchildren during holidays, Sunday family meals and through his final moments on Earthside. 

Jim is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sylvia; son, Dan (Diana) of Hastings; daughter, Cindy (Nick) Brandt of Shelton; son, Mike (Cathy) of Shelton; and son Kirk (Diane) of Lincoln; 9 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; brothers: Bill of Kearney, Gary (Joyce) of Minden; and sister-in-law Penny Spellman of Shelton. 

He was preceded in death by his parents: MarVon and Ann; grandson, Jacob; three brothers: Marvin Spellman, Fred Spellman, and Bob Spellman; and four sisters-in-law: Roma Spellman, Viola Spellman, Linda Spellman, and Joanne Spellman.