James Meis, 93 of Elgin, passed away Tuesday, September 1, 2026 at Accura Care Center in Neligh, NE.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Boniface Church in Elgin, with Rev. Frank Baumert officiating.
Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00-7:00 p.m. Friday at the Church.
Levander Funeral Home?of?Elgin?is?in charge of?the arrangements. Condolences may be sent to the family at?www.levanderfuneralhome.com.
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Melvin James (Jim) Meis was born to Frank Jr. and Adeline (Friedel) Meis in Stratton, Colorado, in 1933. He passed away on September 1, 2026.
Jim and his twin sister, Jane, were born into a family with two older siblings, Bill and DeLoris.
In 1934, the family returned to Elgin, NE, to farm and a younger brother, Bob, completed their family. Jim attended Bell (District #59) and Star (District #36) country schools. He and his sister, Jane, boarded with grandparents in Elgin for one year while attending St. Boniface school and confirmation classes.
As a teenager, Jim enjoyed riding motorcycles and purchased his first bike, a 1942 Harley Davidson XA military bike.
Jim married Shirley Wilmot on July 2, 1956, and they lived in Omaha for a few months before moving to his father’s farm southeast of Elgin.
Jim and Shirley raised five children on their farm: Joan, Pat, Jim, Joe and Lora. Jim was a life-long farmer and increased the size of the original family farm. His two sons, Jim and Joe, continue to farm the same land.
His grandson, Jon, is the fourth generation to work the original farm land.
Jim passed on his enthusiasm for motorcycles to his two sons and grandson. His son, Jim, purchased the same 1942 model of Harley and restored it.
In 1999, Jim and Shirley built a new home in Elgin where Jim had a large display of bells, including school, church, fire and curfew bells.
The first bell in his collection was from the Bell country school he attended. He enjoyed sharing the bells and their origin stories with visitors from across the U.S. and other countries. He was widely known for his bell collection.
Jim also enjoyed traveling and attending farm auctions, especially if a bell was on the sale. He was very knowledgeable of the value of farm equipment and was often consulted by others.
Jim is survived by his wife, Shirley, and his children: Joan Meis Wilson of Bullhead City, AZ; Patricia Meis Friedrichsen (Jed) of Columbia, MO; Jim Meis (Anne) of Elgin, Joe Meis of Elgin, and Lora Leathers (Paul) of Lyons, NE.
Jim is survived by seven grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren. In addition, Jim’s younger brother, Bob Meis, survives. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Adeline Meis, DeLoris Meis Jackson (sister), Bill Meis (brother), Jane Reed (twin sister), Douglas Wilson (son-in-law), and Pam Meis (daughter-in-law).
