James E. Gordon

1946 - 2021

Gordon, James E.

September 5, 1946 - September 2, 2021

Jim Gordon—lover of life, colorful jokes, and well-cooked Nebraska steaks*—made his last, largely irreverent gesture on September 2, 2021.

(*Also: public service, Nebraska football, driving fast and music from the 50s & 60s.)

Jim broke the mold upon his entrance into the world on September 5, 1946. His parents, Robert "Merle" Gordon and Sarah "Sally" Gordon, had four children: Connie, Janet, Sandra, and baby boy Jim.

Growing up, Jim attended Randolph Elementary, Lefler Junior High and Lincoln High School, where he served as manager of the football team (his mom wouldn't let him play football for fear he'd be hurt!). Jim's other odd jobs included working on the Breslow dairy farm baling hay and helping with the herd; delivering newspapers; and working at Campbell's Nursery. He was a Regent's Scholar recipient and attended UNL; however, he liked to say that for his first foray into higher education, he majored in playing pool and partying. This resulted in him being placed on academic probation, which led him to take a break from college and work full-time for the railroad. That lasted about six months, at which point he lost his college deferment and joined the Army (He always made a point of noting it was the U.S. Army).

A recipient of the Purple Heart, Jim served in the United States Army's First Air Cavalry Division and was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge for participating in more than 30 combat assaults. Thanks to years of target practice with his dad, Jim earned the Army's highest marksmanship ranking of "expert" during his military service. He was wounded in Vietnam in 1967 and spent 17 months in the hospital recovering from those wounds. While surgeons were able to save his right leg, the injuries required Jim to walk with a cane. The cane was, perhaps, Jim's second-most recognized characteristic, behind his notorious mustache.

When Jim returned to Lincoln, he tried college again, earning a Bachelor's Degree from UNL in 1972 as a Rhodes Scholarship finalist. While he earned a law degree in 1974, he had already entered the private practice of law as a certified senior law student in 1973. He was a practicing mediator and attorney until retiring in 2016, when he decided to give politics a go and run for the Nebraska Legislature.

In addition to his law practice, Jim was passionate about helping people through eleemosynary work. (Jim had quite an extensive vocabulary and would use words like 'eleemosynary' without batting an eye.) He was active in many civic organizations, including serving as National President and Chair of the Board of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. Locally, Jim was an active member and/or lead of many boards—the Child Advocacy Center, Mediation Center, Legal Aid of Nebraska, Nebraskans for Public TV, Lincoln Children's Zoo, Leadership Lincoln, Foster Care Review Board and Parks & Recreation Advisory Board—just to name a few. (We hope you aren't bored from reading that truncated list!).

Jim was preceded in death by his parents; his sister Connie; and several pets, most notably his Golden Retriever, Jessie. Jim and his beloved wife, Karen Kilgarin, share three daughters: Micala (Robert) Tessman practices Law in Minneapolis MN, Shannon (Lapo) Torrini is a writer and corporate communications manager in Stamford CT, and Celeste Torrence is a Nurse in Lawrence, KS. Jim and Karen have four grandchildren: Yvette and Simonne Tessman, Quentin Torrini, and Scout Verna Jean Shipman.

Although we are sad that Jim has signed off on a life "generally well lived and with few regrets," we remember him fondly and know that he is kicking up gold dust with Sally, who surely greeted him with a fabulous hat on her head and a big smile on her face. Hopefully, he is also quite pleased with, and amused by, this exceedingly long obituary.

One way to honor Jim would be for you to go have a big cup of coffee (Jim drank extra-large mochas or coffee with far too much flavored creamer) with a friend and shoot the breeze about his antics, or play a harmless prank on some unsuspecting sap.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Lincoln Zoo, the Mediation Center, TADA Productions, Child Advocacy Center, and/or Legal Aid of Nebraska.

"As my father planted before me,

so do I plant for my children."

Wyuka Funeral Home & Cemetery

3600 O St., Lincoln, NE 68510 402-474-3600