Dr. James E. (J.E.) Thayer, 86 of Sidney died late Thursday evening, February 10, 2011, in Mission Viejo, California, after suffering a stroke.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 19, 2011 in the First United Methodist Church in Sidney with the Rev. Thomas Hyde officiating.  Burial will follow in the Greenwood Cemetery with military rites.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Sidney, the Thayer Scholarship Fund, which provides financial assistance while continuing medical education or the Cheyenne County Community Center.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. Friday at the Holechek Funeral Home in Sidney.

You may view the online obituary and share condolences with the family at www.holechekfuneralhomes.com

He was born on June 19, 1924, to Iva (Binning) and James Earl Thayer, Sr. in Sidney, NE. He was raised in Potter and graduated from Potter Senior High School. He was drafted into the army after his freshman year at Nebraska Wesleyan University in 1943.

He served with the 95th Infantry Division 379th Regimental Combat Scouts, where he received his Combat Infantry Badge from Gen. George S. Patton. He later received the Purple Heart.

After the war, he married his childhood sweetheart, Lois Hagemeister of Potter, on September 10, 1945. He finished his education at NWU and entered the University of Nebraska Medical College, from which he graduated in 1952. He joined a Family Practice in Sidney, from which he retired in 1998.

He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Sidney and Rotary. He served on numerous medical boards and volunteer associations through the years. He had recently been presented the 2011 Edna Anderson Award from the Chamber of Commerce in recognition of outstanding service to the county.

He had many areas of interest, which included Husker sports, tree planting, flying, skiing, the Fort Sidney Colonials, and the banjo, which he taught himself to play at the age of 75.

He combined his interest in Nebraska history with his talent for writing music and lyrics to compose more than 200 songs about Nebraska historical persons and events. He wrote three musicals: West Wing, Land of the Singing Sky, and Westward Ho!. His music has been performed at Front Street in Ogallala and other historical programs through the years. He was honored that his music has been performed for the past 42 years at the

Nebraskaland Frontier Revue in North Platte.

His wife, Lois, died on February 14, 2009. They had been married 63 years. He is survived by four children: Deborah Boe (Thomas) of Frankfort, IN; Linda Boval (Lawrence) of Coto de Caza, CA; Dr. James D. Thayer (Debbie) of Sidney; and John Thayer (Jennifer) of Verdi, NV; six grandchildren and one greatgrandson.

He was preceded in death by his parents Iva and James Earl Thayer, Sr., sister Floy MacAdam, and brother Harold “Pink” D. Thayer.

Holechek Funeral Home and Cremations in Sidney is serving the Thayer family.