William “Jim” Garza
October 6, 1960 – November 28, 2024
William “Jim” Garza was born in O’Neill, Nebraska to James and Vivian Bowman on October 6, 1960. Later the family moved to Lincoln, where Jim began his school career. When Vivian married Louis Garza, Jim and his siblings began attending Millard Public Schools.
Jim graduated from Millard South in 1979. He attended Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska on a scholarship and graduated from the Machine Tool and Design Technology program in December 1980. After graduating from SCC, Jim worked briefly in Lincoln before beginning employment at Sundstrand Aviation, in York, Nebraska.
It was during his time in Milford that Jim made the acquaintance of Rachel Miller, and the two began dating. Jim and Rachel were married March 3, 1984, and shortly afterwards they moved to Omaha when Jim started work at AT&T, where he worked for many years.
Jim had many interests and hobbies. He liked gaining new skills and knowledge and was a life-long learner. He enjoyed motorcycle riding, photography and reading, but his real love was hunting. Jim was a member of the Nebraska Bowhunters Association and he and Rachel traveled to many meets and shoots. He was a gun safety and hunting instructor and served as a mentor with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. It brought him great joy when the young people he mentored had a successful hunt.
Jim passed away on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, 2024, at the age of 64 years, 1 month and 22 days. Survivors include his wife, Rachel Garza; sister, Angela Dunaway of Beaverton, OR; half -brother, Jake Garza, of Las Vegas, NV; aunts and uncles: Paula Garza of Lincoln, NE, Nora Garza and Ron Holland, Scarlett, and Rodger Harris, all of Colorado; cousins: Gene and LeAnn Garza of Crete, NE Jesse and Kati Garza, Jeff Garza, and Nga Dinh, all of Lincoln; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law: John and Victoria Miller, Mary Ake, all of Salem, Oregon, Sherryl and Randy McDaniel of Albany, Oregon, Arla and Marty Roth of Dorchester, NE, Verlin and Ann Miller of Milford, NE and Daryl and Janal Miller of Albany, Oregon; many nieces, nephews and a host of friends and hunting buddies.
Jim was preceded in death by his mother, Vivian Gillespie; stepfather, Louis Garza; brother, Scott Garza; parents-in-law, Richard and Shirley Miller; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Don and Virginia Miller.
Celebration of Life Service: Saturday, May 17th, 11am at West Center Chapel.
Interment: Pleasantview Cemetery in Milford, Ne
Memorials are suggested to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Heafey-Hoffmann-Dworak-Cutler, West Center Chapel, 7805 West Center Road, Omaha, Ne 68124. (402)-391-3900. www.heafeyheafey.com
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