• In Memory Of

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James Clement Sudbeck

Bern, Kansas

08/20/1947 - 05/20/2021

James Clement Sudbeck, 73, of Bern, Kansas died on May 20, 2021 at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka.

Jim was born in Axtell, Kansas on August 20, 1947, the first child of Clemens Carl and Cyrilla Bertha (Bergman) Sudbeck. He graduated from St. Mary’s High School in St. Benedict with the Class of 1965. As a young man he joined the Marysville National Guard and was deployed to Vietnam. Upon his return he farmed alongside his father.

On January 10, 1970 he married Elizabeth “Betty” Ann Schmits at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. The couple made their home and raised their children on the farm they purchased from his parents five miles West of Bern, where they raised crops and cattle. The couple was blessed with 51 years of marriage.

Jim drove a school bus for 19 years within the Bern and Nemaha Central school districts where he was proud to be part of the “team.” He also served on St. Mary’s Catholic Church Financial Committee and Church Council, as well as coached his children’s baseball teams. Jim volunteered his time with the American Legion Firing Squad at numerous local funerals and took great pride in continuing to serve his country in this role. Above all Jim was most passionate and found his calling within the AA community celebrating 35 years of sobriety in April of 2021. He regularly attended meetings making several lifelong friends and helping countless others in their recovery. Jim truly believed in living one day at a time. Jim served on the Advisory Board for Valley Hope of Atchison for over 20 years.

Jim was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Charles F. Fankhauser Post 326 of the American Legion in Bern and the Seneca Memorial Post #7458 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

He enjoyed attending his kids and grandkid’s events where he was rarely seen without his lawn chair and a cold Diet Pepsi. Jim was very proud of the accomplishments of each of his children, grandchildren, son-in-law & daughters-in-law. There are so many things that will be missed by his family, but just to list a few: smarties in church, buckets of bubble gum, westerns on the tv, Gator rides, games of cribbage and his onery streak.

He is survived by his wife, Betty of Bern; his daughter, Dana (Bryce) Bradley of Seneca; sons, Darren (Denese) Sudbeck of Hebron, NE and Curt (Mindy) Sudbeck of St. Benedict; 10 grandchildren; Kelsey, Zachary (fiancé Shelby Bruna), Caleb Bradley; Elizabeth, Murphy, Quinlan, and Joselyn Sudbeck; Kanin, Adrian, and Brynne Sudbeck. Siblings, Richard (Betty) Sudbeck of Seneca, Kathryn (Richard) Heinen of Wetmore, Kenneth (Ellen) Sudbeck of Seneca, Donald (Nancy) Sudbeck of Seneca, Jeanne (the late Nick) Holthaus of Seneca, and John (Theresa) Sudbeck of Seneca.

Rosaries will be prayed on Monday, May 24th 2 & 7 pm at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, May 25th, 10 AM in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Memorials may be left in Jim’s memory to St. Mary’s Church Electrical Fund and/or Valley Hope of Atchison.

Rosaries will be prayed on Monday, May 24th 2 & 7 pm at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, May 25th, 10 AM in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

Rosaries will be prayed on Monday, May 24th 2 & 7 pm at Lauer Funeral Home in Seneca. The Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, May 25th, 10 AM in St. Mary’s Catholic Church in St. Benedict. Burial will be in the church cemetery.

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34 Comments

  1. Charlene Kramer on May 21, 2021 at 10:36 pm

    So very sorry for your loss. May he always be in your hearts as he is in God hands.

    • Loren Heiniger on May 23, 2021 at 4:37 pm

      Prayers and memories to all the family from. Jim and I spent many a summer afternoon on the pony in the pasture east of the highway, as well as hand/net fishing the Nemaha in our skivies. Bathing suits were not fashionable then. All great memories. Our secrets of youth go with you my friend. God bless you, Rest in Peace

      • Kevin Cummings on June 24, 2021 at 8:36 am

        I just learned of Jim’s passing. I served for @25 years on the Valley Hope Atchison Advisory Board with this fine man. He will be missed.

        • Toni Whitworth on June 24, 2021 at 11:09 am

          Along with Kevin, I also served many years on the Valley Hope Atchison Advisory Board and Jim. He was committed to his calling and was often in pursuit of best practices for current, former and future Valley Hope patients. God bless.

  2. Joan Akin on May 22, 2021 at 6:09 am

    So sorry for your loss .lots of prayers for your family

  3. Ed & Kim Bergman on May 22, 2021 at 6:50 am

    Our condolences to the family

  4. Kenny and Sandy Yarger on May 22, 2021 at 8:08 am

    So very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

    • Jolene Bergman on May 22, 2021 at 2:39 pm

      Dear Betty and family. My deepest condolences for your loss. Jim was a great friend and confidant for many who needed his help. With deepest respect.

  5. Leon and Cathy Osterhaus on May 22, 2021 at 8:11 am

    Our sincere condolences and prayers for all. Truly a sad day as growing up we spent many times together while visiting at grandpa and grandma farm north of Clemmie’s place on Hwy 63. Along with my brothers we enjoyed those days riding the horses and spend time on the farm. Jim and I were classmates at St Mary’s for the first and second grades until we moved to Seneca in ’57. The good die young and my friend will be truly missed.

  6. John Davis on May 22, 2021 at 9:36 am

    He was a man with wisdom and humor. He will be missed at the AA meetings.

  7. Roy Tangeman on May 22, 2021 at 10:08 am

    Lot’s of great memories starting in the 1st grade with Sr Yvonne and his antics about her hair color all the way through high school. Jim was always into everything, fun to be around and a great friend. My prayers are with Betty and the family.

  8. Melissa Althouse on May 22, 2021 at 11:15 am

    Prayers for family.He was a wonderful man.I will miss his witty sense of humor.

  9. Terry Osterhaus on May 22, 2021 at 6:30 pm

    Yes, many fond memories on the bare backs
    of those wild ponies! My sincere condolences to all the Sudbeck’s.
    Fun times were had by all out North on old Hwy. 63.
    May he RIP.
    Terry & Cheryl Osterhaus

  10. Connie and Ced Woodard on May 22, 2021 at 9:43 pm

    Sudbeck Family:

    So sorry for your loss. Jim was a good man! Left this world way to soon. Thoughts and prayers to all. Hugs!

    Connie and Ced

  11. Dan & Judy Lundy on May 22, 2021 at 10:11 pm

    Betty, please accept our condolences, prayers for you & your family

  12. Larry & Tresa Buessing on May 23, 2021 at 11:54 am

    Tresa & I thought alot of Jim, Tresa met him a Valley Hope as a client, He cared and helped so many people connected to Valley Hope & AA. I got to meet him as a Benedictine football parent he was dedicated Dad & a great fan. I had breakfast with him at McDonalds on many occasions as he was on his way to a VHope board meeting

  13. Alan & Linda Osterhaus on May 23, 2021 at 1:55 pm

    Our condolences & prayers. On many of our family visits to our grandparents were spent with Jim and his siblings. Good memories of those times. So sorry for your loss. May Jim rest in God’s loving arm.

    • Delia T Kuhnert on May 24, 2021 at 5:42 pm

      We are going to miss Jim dearly at Valley Hope. Every renewal day I couldn’t wait to see him. He would come into the dining hall with his Diet Pepsi. He always had a smile on his face. We would always visit about our families. I would run into he and his wife at his grandsons ballgames sometimes in the summer as I have a grandson who plays for Wetmore. His story of getting sober impacted me and has helped me in my recovery. I will never forget Jim!!
      Love, prayers and hugs to you all,
      Terry Kuhnert

  14. Barbara Deters on May 23, 2021 at 4:59 pm

    Curt and all your family I send my deepest sympathy!

    • Butch and Marcia Clark on May 25, 2021 at 9:49 am

      The whole Sudback family is in our thoughts and prayers.

  15. Elmer Ronnebaum on May 23, 2021 at 6:19 pm

    A great and loyal friend has passed. Jim will be missed. My sympathy to Betty and family.

  16. Todd and Jean Heideman on May 23, 2021 at 8:02 pm

    So sorry for your loss!

  17. Mike & Mary Sack on May 23, 2021 at 9:12 pm

    So sorry for your loss. Jim will definitely be missed. Hugs and prayers.

  18. gerald l schrick on May 23, 2021 at 10:27 pm

    he will be mishissed jim helped many in and outside the meetings enjoyed when he came to the hall in atchison and to valley hope alumni days his life storys helped others.

  19. Jane Heinen on May 24, 2021 at 1:59 am

    So sorry for your loss. Our prayers for you and your family.

  20. Father Meinrad Miller, O.S.B. on May 24, 2021 at 8:35 am

    My prayers for Betty and the family, and all the friends. He was a good friend to many.

  21. Mischelle Cragg & Dillon Cragg on May 24, 2021 at 8:41 am

    So very sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.

  22. Jerry Macke on May 24, 2021 at 2:04 pm

    Betty, so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with you. Jerry, for your first cousins June, JoAnn, Marian & Lisa.

    • Jody and lois Kuckelman on May 24, 2021 at 4:18 pm

      Betty, we are so sorry for your loss. We will keep him in our prayers.

  23. Christine Christensen on May 24, 2021 at 6:59 pm

    I am so sorry to hear about Jim’s passing. It was always nice to talk to him. He was a very good man. My thoughts are with the entire family.

  24. Elaine and Bill O'Connor on May 24, 2021 at 8:31 pm

    Betty, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and with all Jim’s family. It is never easy to lose a sibling no matter what the age. Sounds like he made a tremendous impact in this world, much more than anyone will ever know. May you all be comforted knowing he is at peace.

  25. Gene & Karen Rottinghaus on May 25, 2021 at 11:35 am

    Betty, Please know that you have Karen and my deepest sympathy with the passing of Jim! We have so many memories of you and Jim that I can’t even recall all of them here is such a small space. Jim was definitely a prankster and was ornery as the day is long. He always made us laugh. We will miss our dear friend put I’m sure he is still watching down on us !

  26. Beau and Barb Wiggins on May 25, 2021 at 1:01 pm

    Curt, Mindy and all the family. We are sorry for your loss. May Jim rest in peace in heaven withGod

  27. Alan Feldkamp on May 25, 2021 at 2:28 pm

    Our condolences to the family. Our prayers are with you all.

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