James Edward Brady

Jim was born to Barbara Ann and Richard Hugh Brady in Scottsbluff, Nebraska on February 17, 1969. He promptly received his Nebraska Cornhusker shot, ensuring his lifelong fan-hood of the Huskers. Jim was one of three rambunctious brothers raised by an incredibly strong, single mother. He followed in his mom’s footsteps, in that she held and lived by strong convictions, as did he. Never following the crowd or mainstream school of thought but instead, educating himself on every topic possible and living by his own principles and beliefs.

Jim was very persistent, yet patient, and pursued his wife for a few years before finally winning her over. Once he did there was no turning back, true best friends and soul mates, they married June 7, 1997. This marriage resulted in his biggest accomplishments, two beautiful and intelligent daughters that he loved fiercely and would do anything for. He lives on through them as they each have inherited specific pieces of him such as a wicked wit, incredible sense of humor, opportune sarcasm, extraordinary intelligence and deeply loving and caring personalities. To be with them is to be with Jim.

Jim graduated from Metropolitan State University in 1996 with a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Entrepreneurship, and always aspired to be his own boss. He owned two restaurants, Wing Zone, and managed them for five years, until he decided they took away too much time from his girls and returned back to his career path in information technology. Jim had a special talent for information technology, and was a true “techy”. He served in various positions, most recently as a Lead IT Data and Analytics professional for Xcel Energy, where he consistently received awards and accolades. He had an exceptional, unwavering work ethic, and would do whatever was needed to get the job done.

Jim had multiple hobbies and interests and was hard to keep up with. He loved music, cars, guitars, football (specifically the Pittsburgh Steelers), baseball, vacationing, exploring, movies, comic books, video games, and a new found love of woodworking, so much so that he returned to college to take classes in woodworking and guitar building and repair. He was incredibly politically savvy, loved his country, but hated the government and the two-party system and would gladly debate the shortfalls of the government with anyone. He was scary intelligent, and held knowledge most never will. He gladly drew upon this knowledge to debate with any one at any time on nearly any topic.

Jim was a loyal, deeply thoughtful, caring and generous person. He would do anything for anybody, they just had to ask. He was also unapologetically sarcastic and a smartass, with a wicked wit and pronounced sense of humor. If you were around him, you would be laughing. He often would say extremely funny but totally inappropriate things, you didn’t want to laugh at, but just couldn’t help it. He was truly young at heart and wise in spirit. Jim was friends with everyone and epitomized the saying a stranger was a friend he hadn’t met. To know him was to love him, and we know him very very much! There is no way to fill the hole he has left, and he will forever be missed.

Jim is survived by his wife Laura, and two daughters Anna, (longtime boyfriend Andrew), and Emily; Brother Jeremy and sister-in-law Kim, nieces Maddie and Reagan, and nephew Keigan; Brother John, sister-in-law Cathy and nephew Josh; and father-in-law Russ, mother-in-law Gail and sisters-in-law Tammy and Kerri (George).

Jim’s incredible life will be celebrated Thursday, December 16, 2021 at the Highlands Masonic Event Center, 3550 Federal Boulevard, at 2pm. Participants should feel free to dress casually, or in Pittsburgh Steelers, rock band or mustang garb, just like he would love.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial fund in his name was set up to support his two daughters: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jim-brady-memorial-fund.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhighland.com for the Brady family.