Jim Lepant

Jim Lepant age 87 of Broken Bow, NE passed away on February 8, 2024, at Brookestone View in Broken Bow.

 Memorial Services will be on Tuesday, February 13, 2024, at 10:30 AM at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Broken Bow with Father Jim Hunt officiating. Inurnment will follow in the St. Joseph’s Catholic Cemetery with Military Honors. A Rosary will take place on Monday, February 12^th at 7:00 PM at the St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. A register book can be signed at Govier Brothers Mortuary. Govier Brothers Mortuary are in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.govierbrothers.com. 

James “Jim” Lepant was born at home to Joseph Sr. and Dorothy (Rich) Lepant on March 20, 1936, on the farm four- and one-half miles south of Anselmo. He was the sixth of seven children. Jim was baptized and received first communion at St. Anselm's Catholic Church. He remained faithful to his faith serving as an altar server in his younger years. He attended kindergarten at District 79, a country school a mile and a half northwest of the farm. The school was closed and then he attended District 58 two-and one-half miles to the southeast. He would walk to the Kinish farm and join Barbara and Angela Kinish and then they would pick up Jack Condon. From there they would join the Moroney boys, Tuck and Bill, then proceed on to school. He can only remember his Dad picking the kids up in a wagon filled with straw once when a winter storm was coming. The Fiorelli's lived just a quarter of a mile from the school, and they had a daughter that attended school in Anselmo with his sister Margaret. His folks and the Fiorelli's decided that he could stay with them during the school week and that their daughter Marie could stay with Jim's folks. Charley could speak limited English and his wife none. Jim stuck it out for three days before he became so homesick that he tried calling his mother to have someone pick him up. He couldn't make Charley's wife Letecia understand that he wanted to call home, so he drug a chair over to the wall phone and started ringing the phone till someone answered on the party line. Finally, his mother answered and sent his older brother Joe over to get him. He attended the first and second grade at that school. He attended the third grade in Anselmo until March 1944, when his folks moved to Broken Bow. He attended the South Ward School for the last six weeks of that year and graduated from Broken Bow High School with the class of 1954. On graduation evening he was introduced to the love of his life Kathryn, by her cousin Virginia, a classmate of his. During his high school years, he worked part time for F.A. Bates. In September of that year, he entered the U.S. Army with his friend Jim Neth. They were sent to Fort Bliss Texas for basic training. From there they were sent to Fort Belvoir Virginia for advanced training as a diesel mechanic.

 After graduating from advanced training, he was sent overseas to Chinon France where he spent the next twenty-six months. While there, he worked as a mechanic, a school bus driver, and finally as a pass bus driver. After returning to the United States and back home, he worked for a farmer for a short period of time. He then went back to work for F.A. Bates as a mechanic, parts man, manager, and finally he and Bob Goodner ended up buying the business from Everett Towns. They renamed the Business B.J. Equipment. After running the International Harvester Dealership for the next 14 years they sold out due to the 80's farm crunch. He then went to work for Morman manufacturing selling cattle and hog feed. He retired from there after 15 years. At the same time, he worked part-time for the City of Broken Bow Parks Department mowing, then as the street sweeper. He retired full-time in 2014.

Jim and Kathryn were married on June 10, 1958. They were blessed with three children Michael, R.J. (Bob), and Lori Blakeman.

Jim was preceded in death by son Michael, son R.J. (Bob), grandson Zachary Lepant, his parents Joe and Dorothy, his mother and father-in-law Bob and Dorothy Kelly, and all of his siblings.

Jim is survived by his wife Kathryn (Katy) of Broken Bow, daughter Lori (Randall) Blakeman of Merna, daughters-in-law Vicki Lepant of Grand Island and Diane Lepant of Hastings, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great grandchildren: Joshua (Val) Blakeman, son Jackson; Matthew Blakeman, children Charli, Huxley, and Lennon; Nick Lepant; Carrie Lepant; Jeremiah (Peggy) Lepant, children and grandchildren Taya, daughters Ruby and Amethyst, Tegan and Coben. Christopher Lepant, children Vincent, Annabelle, and Ryann; Travis (Salina) Lepant, children Lilly, Kayden, and Izabella. Katie Lepant, daughter Melody. Jamie Lepant.