Ira M. "Jim" DeWalt Jr.

Funeral services for Ira M. "Jim" DeWalt, Jr., age 96, of Norfolk, Nebraska will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, October 16, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Norfolk. Reverend Bridget Gately will officiate.
The service will be livestreamed on the funeral home website.
Military honors will be provided by Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1644, American Legion Post 16, and Army National Guard Honor Guard.
Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church.
Home for Funerals in Norfolk is in charge of arrangements.
Ira M. "Jim" DeWalt, Jr. was born to Dr. Ira M. DeWalt, Sr. and Dr. Grace P. Wagner-DeWalt in Wisner, Nebraska. His first breath on earth was drawn on October 24, 1928. His first breath of heaven was drawn on October 12, 2025.
Jim received all of his primary education and most of his secondary education in Wisner. In 1945, during the summer between his junior and senior years of high school, Jim and his parents moved to Ainsworth, Nebraska; and Jim graduated from high school in Ainsworth in 1946.
After graduation from high school, Jim worked at Gil's Auto Body Shop and the Studebaker dealership, both in Ainsworth, until he volunteered to serve in the US Army during the Korean War.
Jim served two years (1951 to 1953) in the Army and was stationed at Camp Crowder, Missouri; Fort Riley, Kansas; and the Atlanta (Georgia) General Depot.
After completing his service in the Army, Jim returned to Nebraska and attended Norfolk Junior College (now Northeast Community College) and the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, receiving his Bachelor's Degree in 1958 from the latter institution.
Jim moved to Norfolk to begin working at the Nebraska Department of Labor (then called the Employment Office). He was the Veterans' Employment Representative: he helped people (veterans and non-veterans) find jobs. He met his future wife, Jan Bramon, in that endeavor. When Jan was no longer his client as she had moved to Lincoln, Nebraska, Jim contacted Jan and began their love story. They wed on February 12, 1965. They welcomed one child into this world, daughter Jennifer.
After eight years with the Nebraska Department of Labor, Jim moved to Nebraska Vocational Rehabilitation to further his career; his role as Voc Rehab Counselor still involved him helping people find jobs. Jim remained employed by Vocational Rehabilitation until his retirement in 1990.
Jim was a lifelong member of the Methodist Church. He was also a long-standing member of the American Legion and the Masonic Lodge of Ainsworth.
Jim was widely known as a quiet, understated man unless he was behind the wheel or in the garage, at which times all bets were off. On those occasions, colorful language, which has become the stuff of lore over the decades, emanated from Jim with ease and frequency. In addition to creative cussing, Jim was known for telling jokes, reciting his many memorized limericks, his love of cars (especially antique autos) and playing card games, and loving his family. Jim also loved traveling with his family. It was his life's goal to take his wife and daughter to visit each state in the Union before his daughter graduated from high school: that lofty goal was achieved but for one state, Alaska. Thereafter, Jim and his wife continued to travel and added foreign locations among their destinations. Ireland was their favorite of all the destinations that they visited.
Jim is survived by his wife, Jan DeWalt of Norfolk; daughter, Jennifer DeWalt (Gene Geihsler) of Norfolk; brother-in-law, Bob Bramon of Norfolk; feline daughter, Moonie DeWalt of Norfolk; grandkitties, Lily and Daisy DeWalt of Norfolk; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; infant brother, James DeWalt; infant sister, Priscilla DeWalt; three brothers-in-law, Duane Funk, Kenny Funk, and Bob Beed; four sisters-in-law, Barb Funk, Phil Funk, Lucy Bramon, and Gayle Beed; canine son, Maximillian Von Goddard DeWalt; feline daughter, Flannel DeWalt; cavy grandpig, Mrs. B. DeWalt; feline granddaughter, Fauna DeWalt; and grandkitties, Sebastian and Alexander DeWalt.
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