James L. Long

Funeral Services for James L. “Jim” Long, age 83, of Norfolk, will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at Westridge United Methodist Church in Norfolk.  Reverend Claire Gager will officiate. Burial will be in Prospect Hill Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be an hour prior at the church.  Home for Funerals is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Long died at St. Joseph’s Rehabilitation and Care Center in Norfolk on Monday, May 15, 2023.

James LeRoy was born August 9, 1939 in Magnet, Nebraska, to William “Bill” and Emma (Dünger) Long. He grew up in Magnet and attended school there, graduating at 1956 at the age of 16, in a class that consisted only of himself.

Jim married Velda Claussen on May 23, 1959 in Wausa, Nebraska. The couple lived in Magnet, where they had their two daughters, until they moved to Norfolk in 1968.

Jim loved to work and always kept himself busy. Throughout his life he built multiple houses and bought homes and properties that he would fix up and flip with help from his wife and daughters. At one time he and Velda bought acreage that had been one of the original homesteads in Pierce County where they raised miniature horses to show. Jim worked as a mechanic in his own garage, and then as a welder for 28 years, retiring from Heritage Industries in Wayne at the age of 76.  He was fond of antiquing, hunting for treasure at estate and garage sales and flea markets, where he could also sometimes be found with his own table of treasures to sell.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Velda, his daughters Tammy Stephenson and Pam (Vince) Lieb; grandchildren J.C (Monica) Bomar, Paige (Travis) Chace, Jayde Bomar, Lance Stephenson, and Josh (Praise) Stephenson; 17 great grandchildren, sister Lee Petersen, and several nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his parents, brother William “Bill” Long, Jr., and sisters Delores Nelson, Eleanor Peters, Phyllis Stoecker, and Lois Mick.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of James L. Long, please visit our floral store.