James Boroff
James Frank Boroff, age 88, of Kearney, formerly of Wood River, died Saturday, March 22, 2025, at Central Nebraska Veterans Home with his family by his side.
Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. today, Thursday, March 27, at Grace Lutheran Church with Pastor Don Pobanz officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service, from 9:30 to 10:45 a.m. at the church. Interment will be in the Westlawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Grand Island. Memorials are suggested to the family to be designated at a later date.
Apfel Funeral Home is caring for the family. Online condolences may be directed to www. apfelfuneralhome.com.
Jim was born on June 9, 1936, in Doniphan to Merton and Lela (Stiles) Boroff. He attended school in Doniphan and Wood River. After graduating from Wood River High School, he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He received basic training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. In his three years of service, he was stationed in Germany and Stateside. He held the rank of tank commander. At the end of his service, he received an honorable discharge and returned home to marry his high school sweetheart, Darlene Eickhoff.
Jim married Darlene Eickhoff on January 19, 1958, at Grace Lutheran Church in Wood River. They lived in Omaha their first year of marriage, then moved back to Wood River. The couple raised their children, Stephanie, James Jr., Rachel, David, Daniel and Miriam, in the home they built outside of Wood River and still lived there until the time of Darlene’s death.
Jim held various positions including assistant manager at the Grand Island Elevator (Super-Sweet) from 1958 to 1969. He left Super-Sweet and worked as a foreman at the Cornhusker Army Ammunition Plant. His experience at the elevator opened doors for him at Monsanto. They recruited and hired him as manager of the new Monsanto Plant in Boelus. He was the only manager hired by them without a college degree. Following his employment, he started farming after which he held a few jobs, ending his working career at Ferrell Gas in Grand Island.
Jim was a member of the Alda VFW and Grace Lutheran Church. He was very proud to be a member of the VFW and represented them at numerous events. Some of the highlighted events were to work in their fireworks stand and ride on the Harvest of Harmony parade float every year.
The greatest love of his life was his wife, Darlene, whom he cherished for their 59 years of marriage. Jim loved dancing with her. Jim and Darlene won several awards for dancing, including winning at the Nebraska State Bicentennial Ballroom, in which they won the waltz and second in the polka competitions. There was always a line to dance with Jim, consisting of his daughters and granddaughters. Their children and grandchildren loved to watch them dance.
His second greatest joys were his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. He loved attending all of their events and programs, especially the sports. You could hear him cheering with his booming voice for each one of them.
His faith in God was very strong and he loved worshipping Him. Jim was baptized and confirmed at Grace Lutheran Church in Wood River. Jim loved to share stories of his high school football and track, which he held several records in both. Hobbies included working and talking about cars and reading — especially old westerns. He had a great mind for numbers and math. His kids loved to challenge him with this as they used paper or a calculator, compared to him without the use of them. Jim loved visiting and meeting people, and he never knew a stranger.
Those left to cherish his memory include his children, James Boroff, Jr., of Central City, Rachel Boroff Brehm, of Hastings, David Boroff, of Grand Island, Daniel (Kathy) Boroff, of Grand Island, Miriam (Eddie) Burchfield, of Central City, and Paula Hulme, of Grand Island; grandchildren, Ericka Medinger, Jessica Medinger, Heather (Kevin) Hunt, Nicole Kottwitz, Krystal Boroff, Christopher Boroff, Josh Lewis, Tyler Lewis and Sarah Stuart, Brandon (Jessie) Boroff, Amber (Bob) Holthaus, Shandell (Brent) Hull, Crissa (Wade) Obermier, Clint Burchfield, Adam (Abby) Burchfield, and Micah (Shea) Burchfield; greatgrandchildren, Xavier, Drake, Ellie, Lokken, Rowyn, Corbin, Destiny and Devin, Karlie, Blake, Marley, Theo, Oliver, Henry, Colton, Caselynn, Wyatt, Harleigh, Hennessy, Aubri, Tony, Hudson, Ramsi, Grayson, Aiden, Olivia, Clara Mae, Amelia, Lexi, Caleb, Chloe, and Bentley; great-great-grandchildren, Izabel, Ayvah and Ryatt; three sisters-in-law; three brothers-in-law; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene; parents; maternal and paternal grandparents; daughter, Stephanie; grandsons, David Jr. and Daniel II; numerous unheld babies of the family; one brother; five sisters; and three brothers-in-law.