James J. Huerter, 97, of Seneca, passed away on July 28, 2021, at Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca, KS, surrounded by his family.

Jim was born May 29, 1924 near Goff, KS.  He was the son of Emil and Valeria Johnstone Huerter.  He grew up in the Goff Community and graduated from Goff High School in 1942.

Jim entered the U.S. Army on February 28, 1944 at Ft. Leavenworth and was discharged on February 9, 1946 at Ft. Logan, CO. He was assigned to the 503^rd Parachute Infantry.  During his time in the military, he was in New Guinea, the Southern Philippines and Luzon. He received two bronze stars and was awarded three purple hearts for the injuries he received during the war. He was discharged with the rank of Tec 5.

When he came home from serving his country, Jim obtained a certificate for Electrical. He married Geraldine “Jerrie” B. Enneking on September 3, 1946 at Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church in Seneca.  Jim and Jerrie celebrated 74 ½ years of marriage.

The couple made their home in the Kelly community, and were members of St. Bede’s Catholic Church in Kelly. Jim worked for Love and Osterhaus Construction, and for Adams Township where he ran the grader for 10 years.  Jim was later employed by the Nemaha Valley Community Hospital in Seneca from 1963 to 1991.

In 2010 he moved to Seneca; where he was a member of Sts. Peter & Paul Catholic Church and St. Joseph Society.  Jim was a member of the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and received his 75-year award for his membership; he also belonged to the Earl W. Taylor Post #21.

His hobbies and interests were woodworking, metal detecting, coin collecting, gardening, fishing, hunting and in his younger days he enjoyed racing cars at the Olberding race track east of Seneca.

He was preceded in death by wife, Jerrie on March 23, 2021; his parents; Emil and Valeria Huerter; a great- grandson, Dyllon Butrick on September 12, 2012; his brother, William on November 18, 2017.

Survivors are his children, Connie (Roger) Battin of Hiawatha, James Jr (Ann) Huerter of Topeka, Gary (Lori) Huerter of Seneca, Ronnie Huerter of Seneca; Cindy (Dan) Carlson of Seneca, Kelli (Greg) Olberding of Seneca; DeAnn (Larry) Herberholz of Scottsboro, Alabama; brothers,  Robert Huerter of Chanute, Alfred “Smitty” Huerter of Goff and Daniel Huerter of Bellevue, NE; 23 grandchildren; 37 great-grandchildren; ten great-great grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren on the way.

The Mass of Christian Burial will be on Saturday July 31, 2021 at 10:00 A.M.at Sts. Peter and Paul’s Catholic Church in Seneca. A rosary will be prayed at 9:30 A.M., prior to the Mass.

Jim will be laid to rest, next to his wife Jerrie, in the St. Bede’s Catholic Cemetery in Kelly, KS.

Memorials may be left in Jim’s memory to Seneca Military Museum in Seneca, and may be sent in care of the family.