James V Hughes

James (Jim/Jimmy) Vestal Hughes IV, a resident of Omaha, Nebraska passed away on Monday, September 6, 2021. He was at Nebraska Medicine with complications of surgery and alcoholism. Jim went peacefully with his wife Colette, his father and mother-in-law Robert (Bob) and Carol Schroeder by his side. Jim was born on December 25, 1955 to Mary Jo (Welch) and James V Hughes, III in the U.S. Naval Hospital in San Diego, California. His family moved several times between Savannah, Tennessee and Riverside, California where he graduated high school. Jim joined the U.S. Navy in 1975 and was trained as an electrician during his first two years of service. The Navy then recruited him to be a Navy Seal which he served until 1981. His final years of service Jim started to suffer PTSD which went undiagnosed. He copped his entire adult life with a bottle and smoking. In 2016, he stopped smoking when he married the love of his life Colette. They bought a beautiful home which they completely remodeled with the majority of work beside each other. They were a fantastic team. In the fall of 2020, Jim made the choice to get sober and went to rehab for 6 weeks. He did his best staying sober but slipped several times when he received news about his oldest daughter's cancer and ultimate passing. Jim worked as a Master Electrician for 17 years at Ashgrove Cement. He hated that place but loved his co-workers and the job that he did. He was known as “The Legend”. His co-workers would often play pranks on him and he would do the same back. Jim retired on March 31, 2021 at the age of 65. Jim had many happy times and he loved his children with his whole heart. He could name every year of the Ford Mustang and owned several over the years. He did learn that red cars were his nemesis, as he always wrecked them.While in the Navy he also fought in the Golden Gloves. He also could rebuild a Volkswagan blindfolded.He loved to scuba dive and travelled often to South America.He enjoyed traveling all over the states and planned on taking their Harley Davidsons on a trailer with his wife in his retirement. Jim was preceded in death by his father James Vestal Hughes III, daughter Jani Herrell and step-daughter Jennifer Lynn Kilpatric. He is survived by his wife Colette (Schroeder) Hughes, Mother Mary Jo Hughes, Mother and Father-in-law Robert and Carol Schroeder, Uncle Bobby (Ruth Ann) Hughes, Brother Keith (Susanna) Hughes, Sister Libby (Joe) Ranney, Brother-in-laws David (Lisa) Schroeder, Kirk (Marlene) Schroeder and Tom Schroeder, Daughters Jenni (Bill) McCall, Sommer Fox, Brandy Ringleb and Son James V Hughes V. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Madelyn (Matt) Quesnel, Austin Fox, Aubry Herrell, Abby Herrell, Billie Rae McCall, James V Hughes VI, Evelyn Ringleb, Sophia Ringleb and Roman Ringleb. He is also survived by several nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews. There will be a private family service with full military honors at the U.S. National Cemetery in Omaha, NE on October 7, 2021. A Celebration of Life is being held on Saturday, October 9, 2021 at 2 p.m. at the Faithful Shepherd Presbyterian Church, 2530 South 165th Avenue, Omaha, Nebraska 68130.At his request his ashes will be placed with his wife and step-daughter in the family plot located in the Cedar View Cemetery, Doniphan, Nebraska.