James Charles Ephraim

James Charles Ephraim was born on Oct. 28, 1921 in Winchester on family land known as the Post Oak to Levine and Hulda (Schmidt) Ephraim. He was baptized on July 15, 1923 by Pastor Hermann Schmidt and was confirmed at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church on March 21, 1937 by Rev. Louis A. Trinklein. His confirmation verse was First Timothy 4:8 “godliness is of value in every way as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.” On the rainy day of June 9, 1946 Rev. E.R. Rathgeber united James and Lera Evelyn Karisch in marriage at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church. Their marriage was blessed with a son Jim and daughter Linda. On the morning of February 13, 2018 James was called to his Heavenly Home at the age of 96. James and Lera lived many years on the farm bordering Pin Oak Creek. He was a proud farmer and rancher raising cattle, hogs, hay, cotton, corn, milo, chickens and turkeys. James loved the farm and working the land with his tractor. He retired from the Texas Forest Service in the early 1990s but never retired from farming and ranching. Even in his last years, he loved talking about Winchester, its people and his farm by sharing many stories of growing up in Winchester and living through the Depression, being in England during World War II, historic floods, custom hay baling, fighting fires, being Smokey the Bear in parades, and filling Easter eggs with candy for his great-grandchildren. He was active serving on the finance committee at St. Michael’s for over 50 years and working with county 4-H members during the Fayette County Fair and the Junior Livestock Show. James is survived by his wife of 71 years, Lera; son, Jim and wife Susan of Katy; and daughter, Linda and husband John Dalchau of Deanville; grandchildren, Kimberly and Sean O’Farrell, Jennifer and Mark Stringer, Jason and Linda Ephraim, Janna and Damien McGaugh, and Jonathan and Shari Dalchau. The stars in his later years were his great-grandchildren: Meagan, Madison, Morgan, Jaxon, Ella, Dylan and Sarah. He also leaves behind many members of the Ephraim and Karisch families all with their own special memories of James. His parents and his sister, Gloria Mae Gersch, preceded him in death. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Feb. 17, 2018 at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Winchester with Rev. Nate Hill officiating. Burial followed in the Winchester Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jonathan and Jaxon Dalchau, Jason Ephraim, Damien McGaugh, Sean O’Farrell, Mark and Dylan Stringer, and Maclyn Lehmann. Memorials may be made to St. Michael’s Lutheran Church or to the Winchester Volunteer Fire Department. Arrangements by Phillips and Luckey Funeral Home in Giddings.