Biography:

James J. Kreizinger, 67, passed away of heart failure on Sunday, October 11, 2015, at his home near Crete, Nebraska.
A Celebration of Jim’s Life will be held Saturday, December 5, 2015, at the First Plymouth Church, 2000 D Street, in Lincoln, Nebraska, beginning at 1:30 p.m., Reverend Nancy Erickson officiating. A private interment of ashes will be held at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family for later designation.
James Joseph Kreizinger was born to Audrey Joseph Kreizinger and Delores (Schmit) Kreizinger on December 13, 1947, in David City, Nebraska. He grew up on the family farm west and south of Bellwood, Nebraska, attending School District 13 on the edge of the Kreizinger homestead, and David City High School, from where he graduated in 1966. In high school he was successful in sports, especially football and track, and enjoyed performing in school plays.
Later in the 1960’s Jim attended the University of Nebraska, and greatly enjoyed playing keyboard for the popular Midwestern show band The Chancellors, who garnered a record contract with Liberty Records, and opened for such groups as The Who, the Beach Boys, Herman’s Hermits, and others. The band reunited in 1997 when they were inducted into the Nebraska Music Hall of Fame.
On August 12, 1972, Jim married Marlene Shotkoski, and to that union two children were born, Michael James in 1978 and Jill Marie in 1980. Jim cherished family, and spent many happy years with them in Lincoln, where he worked as a sales and general manager for Baker Hardware and R. L. White and Sons.
Tragedy struck on November 27, 1983, when the family was involved in an automobile accident that claimed the lives of three, including Michael and Jill Kreizinger. That tragic day remained a haunting memory to Jim until his death, as well as to other family members and friends.
For several years, Jim and Marlene lived in Loveland, Colorado, with Jim working in the Denver area in the field of acoustical/sound treatment. In 1986, they adopted Ryan Joon Kreizinger, who now resides in Hollywood, Florida. During that time, Jim also graduated with a BA in Business Administration, with a minor in Religious Studies, from Regis University in Denver.
Some years later, Jim moved back to Lincoln, Nebraska, and shortly thereafter to the Blue River Lodge development west and north of Crete, Nebraska. For the past 14 years, he has lived in a lakeside cabin near the Big Blue River, where he has enjoyed fishing, hiking, photography, cooking, watching sports, reading widely (from poetry to plays to historical fiction to philosophy and beyond), and spending time with his close companion of the last 14 years, Rebecca Copple. Rebecca and Jim shared many common interests including their love of pets, the arts, and long conversations, and Jim cherished those times.
Jim also greatly enjoyed his many hours spent writing and directing plays and musicals performed by the children of District 31 School near Crete, where he also substitute taught. His spoke fondly of those times, working with the teachers and the children of District 31, alongside Rebecca, and also of his times teaching Digital Photography at Southeast Community College.
Since the early 2000’s Jim also enjoyed re-kindling his family relationship with his brother Joe, Joe’s wife Monica, and their son Caleb. He loved their weekend visits, teaching Caleb about fly fishing and ice fishing, ice skating, and rope climbing, and sharing sports stories. He and Joe also enjoyed hours of phone conversations and email exchanges, often discussing Husker sports, Caleb’s sports, new recipes, books, and movies.
Jim is remembered by many as having faced unimaginable tragedy, which he did, but he also positively touched many lives and had many passions throughout his life. He was a musician, a teacher, a scholar, an athlete, a family man, a friend, and a person of integrity and dedication. He will be forever missed.
Survivors include his companion Rebecca Copple of Crete; a son Ryan Kreizinger of Hollywood, Florida; a brother, sister-in law, and nephew Joe, Monica, and Caleb Kreizinger of Maryville, Missouri; aunts, uncles, and cousins; former relatives and their families, many special friends, and his two special pets, Nigel and Roada.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his son Michael and daughter Jill, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

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