James C Patrick

James Charles Patrick, 87, of Harvard, Nebraska left this world on February 12th, 2026. He was ready to attend his heavenly reunion and stated his desire to be there. His life after death experience in 1961 due to electrocution with a cardiac arrest event prepared him for what to expect on his final trip home. He knew what a joyous homecoming it would be.

James was born September 18, 1938 in Fremont, Nebraska to Foy and Eva Patrick. He was the eldest and had a brother, Gerald, and a sister, Kimberly. He attended Fremont Public Schools and then continued his education at Milford Technical College. He received an associates degree in electronics. He married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Christensen, February 6, 1960. Jim and Barb started a family soon after which included Toni, Jamie, Tamara, Jeffrey, and James Todd.

Jim worked as a TV repairman, expanded into other electronic device repairs, and then he advanced into the management of a wholesale electronics distribution store which included contact with multiple local sales men. Later, he sold satellite TV systems with another company,

Hastings Satellite. His final job was as a safety manager for a manufacturing company, Hastings Pipe and Irrigation. These jobs all had a common thread which was communicating and connecting with people. This was his passion in life!

He also enjoyed his hobbies. In his youth, he was involved with a car club, the Fremont Dragoons, who worked on cars and competed in drag races. He had a knack for this since Foy worked in an auto body business. He also was introduced to riding horses in Hastings so he became a horse enthusiast, owning 3 horses that lived on the acreage in Harvard, Nebraska. He also served in the First United Methodist Church on many committees and with the youth group in the 57 years that he attended. Within our family, he was the consistent game champion against friends and family alike. Again, the camaraderie and human connections were the driving passion!

He was proud of his military service with the Army National Guard. He was deployed stateside for disaster relief and for work involved in cold war intel which he could never discuss. He was a sharpshooter and communications sergeant.

He is survived by his sister, Kimberly Patrick (Fremont, NE), his children: Toni Patrick (York, NE), Jamie Dikeman (Ogallala, NE), Todd Patrick (Jodi- Farmington, CT), his grandchildren:

Christopher Patrick (Amanda- Omaha, NE), Derek Dikeman (Sutton, NE), Joshua Patrick (Nichole- York, NE), Ian Dikeman (Lincoln, NE), and Seth Dikeman (Jessica - Greeley, CO), and many great grandchildren: Valerie Patrick, Celeste Patrick, Alice Patrick, Connor Patrick, Katie Patrick, and Olivia Hanna.

His legacy of offering help and service to others, his practical jokes, his distinctive laughter, and love of family time will live on in the family’s memory.