Robert M. James

Robert “Bob” M. James, 79, of Pender, NE died on Thursday, March 23, 2017 at the Pender Community Hospital in Pender, NE.  Funeral services for Bob will be held on Monday, March 27, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. at the Cornerstone Assembly of God Church in Pender, NE; Pastor Randy Nelson will be officiating.  The visitation will begin on Monday morning at 9:30 a.m. and will run until the time of the funeral at the church.  Burial with military honors will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Walthill, NE.  Memorial are suggested to the family for future designation.  Munderloh – Smith Funeral Home of Pender is in charge of the arrangements.  Bob was born in Ponca, NE on June 17, 1937, the son of Pearl and Leola (Cyphers) James.  He attended school in Walthill, NE and later in Sheldon, NE where he later joined the US Marine Corps Reserve.  His family moved to Las Vegas, NV, where Bob joined the US Air Force. Bob was stationed on the east coast, where he met and married Mary Jane Wood on March 23, 1957 at Bordentown, N.J.  After leaving the service, he attended trade school and worked for the Nevada Power Company as a linesman.  The couple moved back to Nebraska, where Bob attended the Law Enforcement Academy in North Platte, NE.  He was Chief of Police in Walthill, NE for several years before moving to Pender and later becoming the Chief of Police in Pender until his retirement in June of 2007. Bob enjoyed the time he spent camping, fishing, hunting and most recently wood working.  He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Mary of Pender, NE; sons, Doug (Chris) Ball of Riverside, and James Patrick (Brenda) Ball of Walthill, NE; daughters, Robin (Arland) Harmon of Pender, NE, Stacey (Al) Ring of Pender, NE and Patty (Randy) Stanton of N. Sioux City, SD; daughters-in-law, Brenda Ball of Sioux City, IA, and Erin Blom of Sioux City, IA.  He is also survived by his sister Carol (Orrin) Rasmussen of Sioux City, IA, many nieces and nephews and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.  Bob is also survived by over one hundred foster children they helped raise.   Bob is preceded in death by his parents; sons, Robert Scott James and Ted Ball; sister, Maxine Ball; granddaughter, Casey Ball; and a grandson, Nick Urbanec.