James D. Blacksher

James D. Blacksher, age 79, passed away peacefully on June 6, 2024 at the Minnesota Veterans Home in Minneapolis, Minnesota after struggling with Alzheimer’s disease during the final phase of his life.James David Blacksher, son of Lovern and Pauline (Duis) Blacksher, was born on February 1st, 1945, in Omaha, Nebraska. He grew up on the family farm and graduated from Fairbury High School in Fairbury, Nebraska, in 1962 at the age of 17. Upon graduation, he went straight into the Navy and was eager to see the world and learn new skills. On October 1st, 1971, he married Bernice M. Heinen at St. Paul’s Catholic Church in her hometown of Sauk Centre, Minnesota.Throughout Jim’s Navy career of 23 years, they called many places “home” and lived on or near Navy bases in Honolulu, Hawaii; San Diego, California; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Charleston, South Carolina; and Virginia Beach, Virginia. Jim was also stationed in Groton, Connecticut; Rota, Spain; and Holy Loch, Scotland. Jim proudly served aboard nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines, including the USS Nathanael Green, USS John Adams, and USS Ulysses S. Grant. He rose to the rank of Master Chief Petty Officer and served as an instructor and mentor to new service members.Jim valued learning and education and earned multiple degrees in psychology and business.In his later years, Jim found joy in sharing his passion for electronics with his grandsons, building circuitry kits together and taking them to explore science museums. Watching them play in the yard brought a smile to his face and he took immense pride in their achievements.During their retirement, Jim and Bernice embarked on trips to Europe and Alaska with family and friends. Close to home, they enjoyed being together and spent evenings watching Minnesota Twins baseball.Jim is survived by his wife Bernice (Heinen) Blacksher of 52 years; daughter Sarah (Paul) Van Vleet; grandsons Benjamin (14), Christopher (12), and Theodore (12) of Crozet, Virginia; brother Mike (Lynne) Blacksher of Lincoln, Nebraska; brother Bryan (Jean) Blacksher of San Diego, California; and sister-in-law Beverly Blacksher of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.He was preceded in death by his parents and half-brother, Don Blacksher, of Scottsbluff, Nebraska.Private interment will be held at a later date.

This Is The Way It Was

Eugene E. "Gene" Bock

Related Articles

Greg Hergott

Phyllis (Hansen) Janssen

Ella Alma Henrietta Witte Schafer

John R. Lampe