James R. Lepore

James R. “Jim” Lepore, age 41, of Colon, passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Lincoln.

Jim was born March 17, 1985, in Lincoln to Russell and Marcia (Nelson) Lepore. He grew up on a farm near Wahoo and attended Wahoo Public Schools. As a kid, Jim loved showing animals at the Saunders County Fair, riding his bike to the pool every day in the summer, and making the most out of life outdoors.

On June 5, 2010, Jim married Melissa M. Jones in Wahoo. Together they made their home near Colon and built a life centered around their children and family. Jim was the proud father of Audrie, Maison, Payton, Nathan, and Gage, and being their dad was one of the most important parts of his life. He made ordinary moments feel special, especially movie nights, game nights, and weekends gathered around good food.

Jim was known as a hardworking man who spent his adult life in construction. He worked for Buckmaster, then Lehrman, and later went out on his own, creating Lepore Squared Construction Company. He took pride in his work and was not afraid of long days or difficult jobs.

Jim loved being outside. Kayaking, canoeing, and frisbee golf were favorite pastimes, and he was happiest when life included fresh air, family, and laughter. He was also a master of the Blackstone Grill and loved preparing weekend meals for everyone to enjoy. When he needed time to himself, Jim could often be found in the garage with loud music playing, something he proudly called his “music therapy.”

Jim is survived by his wife, Melissa; children, Audrie, Maison, Payton, Nathan, and Gage; parents, Marcia and Doug Tetley; step-father, Dave Stark; siblings, Joe (Angie) Lepore and Juliet Stauffer; step-sisters, Winter Tetley and Robin MacDonald; father-in-law and mother-in-law, John and Vicki Ruzicka; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Megan (Cody) Ernesti, Molly Allely, Tyler Ruzicka, and Jake Ruzicka; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. He was preceded in death by his father Russell Lepore; sister Rose Lepore; brother Billy Dawson Stark; grandparents Michael and Juliet Lepore and Laurel and Rose Nelson.

Memorial services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ceresco.

Memorials may be made to the family for later designation.