James M. Poole

James M. Poole

November 11, 1958 – October 14, 2018

James Mitchell Poole was born on November 11, 1958 to Elerd James Poole and Evelyn Janet (Day) Poole, joining proud big sister Cheryln Kaye. As a kid, Jim’s time was spent outdoors riding his treasured mini bike, fishing with his Dad, and camping with his family.  Jim lived his entire life in Omaha, Nebraska attending Belle Ryan Elementary, Norris Middle School and Central High School, graduating in 1977.  After attending UNO for a short time, Jim went to work for Nelson News, a magazine and book wholesaler, selling racing forms at the Ak-Sar-Ben horse racing track.   This led to 23 years of employment with this company.  In 2001, Nelson News was sold to Gopher News out of Minneapolis, and Jim worked as a Sales Associate in Nebraska and Iowa until they closed in 2014.  He went to work for United Refrigeration in February of 2014 as a delivery driver until the lure of the magazine business brought him to Cowley News in July of that same year. Jim worked as the Division Manager of their Lincoln office until his death.

In 1989, Jim was delivering magazines to the Read All About It bookstore at the Westroads when his good friend Jennie Mathisen introduced him to Lanelle Bull, who was working part-time at the store. She invited him out for a birthday drink, then he asked her to a husker football game, and by New Year’s Eve, they were a pair.  For twenty-seven years they shared a life and were each other’s “ROCK.”

The most important moments in Jim’s life were the birth of his two sons, Joseph James and Justin Michael.  He was a devoted Dad who showered his boys with love, taught them how to ride bikes, throw a baseball, catch a fish, honor your word, work hard, and treat everyone with respect.  Nothing brought a smile to Jimbo’s face more than spending time with his boys, then later daughters-in-law, Laura and Nicole. The addition of the grandkids just completed the circle of love that Jim treasured.

Jim coached both the boys in baseball when they were young, spending countless hours teaching them the game that he had played in his youth.  In 1995, he coached Justin and his Millard Metro 10 team all the way to the inaugural 10 year old PONY World Series in Irving, Texas.  Through this tournament he became involved with the Super Series Network, a local organization that ran youth baseball tournaments, drawing teams from all over the country.  He was an active tournament director with this organization until 2007.

There are two places that Jim loved more than all others, his beloved Big Lake, Missouri and his annual trip to Vegas with his friend of 47 years, Robert Wackerhagen.  Big Lake was where Jim was at his best, where he could relax and putter to his heart’s content. There was no project that he wouldn’t tackle with his skill with any tool.  Plans to retire to the lake were talked about often, but God had other plans for Jim.

Jim passed away on Sunday, October 14^th at the age of 59 years, 11 months and 3 days, at his home, in his favorite recliner, surrounded by his family.  He was preceded in death by his parents, Elerd and Jan Poole; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Fritz and Bev Bull.  Jim is survived by his wife, Lanelle; sons and daughters-in-law, Joe and Nicole and Justin and Laura; granddaughter, Brooke; grandsons: Jameson, Carson and Joey Bear; sister and brother-in-law, Cherie Townsend and Scott Doering; Sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law: Lindy Hoyer, Dick and Lisa Olesen, Carter and Tamara Bull, many nieces, nephews, and friends.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE SERVICE: Saturday, November 10^th at 10am at the West Center Chapel.  Memorials may be directed to the family.