James Otto Ellis, age 75, of Cambridge, Nebraska, passed away at the CHI Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney on November 21, 2020.  He was born in Oxford, Nebraska on January 5, 1945 to Fern and C. Lucille (Culver) Ellis.  The family moved to Cambridge where Jim attended Cambridge Schools. 

Jim joined the United States Navy in 1962 and served for four years on the USS Midway Carrier as a Petty officer.  He was Honorably Discharged on May 4, 1966.  He returned to Cambridge where he started farming for several years, before opening his own electrical business called Ellis Electric.  He was united in marriage to Carolyn Downin on July 16, 1970.  Carolyn preceded him in death August 20, 2014. 

Jim was active in the American Legion Post #199 of Cambridge.  He was a regular in the Honor Guard for many of the Veteran’s services held by the post.  He was a Certified Scuba Diver from Heartland Scuba Diving Center of Kearney.  Jim traveled to the Caribbean, Puerto Rico, Caymen Islands, California Coast, Florida Keys and many locations in the continental United States.  Jim also loved to travel on his three-wheeled motorcycle.  He would on the spur of the moment, get on his “bike” and away he would travel.  Jim loved spending time with his family, especially his grandkids. He was a member of the Trinity United Methodist Church. Jim was a regular at coffee with the guys at Gas-N-Shop and later Casey's, solving many problems of the day. 

He was preceded in death by his parents, Fern and Lucille; wife, Carolyn; son, Bruce E. Ellis in 1984; bothers, Ralph Burton, Billy Ellis, and two sisters, Patty Swanson and Betty Dack. 

Jim is survived by his two sons, James Lee and wife, Joann Ellis of Edison, NE; Gale and wife, Megan Ellis of Denver, CO; 12 grandchildren; 13 great grandchildren. 

Visitation will be held at the Lockenour-Jones Mortuary on December 2, 2020 from 10:30 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.  Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. with Jim Jones officiating.  Interment will be in the Fairview Cemetery of Cambridge.  Military Honors will be conducted at graveside with the United States Navy Funeral Honors Detail and the American Legion Post #199.  Friends may leave on-line condolences at lockenourfh.com.  Memorials may be given to the American Legion Post #199 of Cambridge or the Sons of The American Legion Post of Edison/Arapahoe.  Lockenour-Jones Mortuary entrusted with arrangements.