James W. "Shorty" Bemelman

A Christian Burial Service for James W. “Shorty” Bemelman will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 24, 2010 in the chapel of Blanchard St. Denis Funeral Home with Father Thomas Chandy officiating. Interment will follow at Emmanuel Cemetery in Chopin, LA. The family will receive friends from 8 a.m. until service time on Saturday. James W. Bemelman was born December 14, 1936 in Parker, South Dakota to Harry and Mary Kinder Bemelman. He passed away April 20, 2010 after a lengthy illness. “Shorty” grew up on a farm in Marion, South Dakota. The youngest of three children, he was affectionately called “Little Jimmy”. He joined the Army in 1955. After leaving the Army, he worked for several pipeline companies before working for Texas Power and Light as a lineman. He later moved to Lufkin, Texas and took the position of superintendant of the Power line Division for Temple Associates. He started his own company, Six B Construction, in 1982. He had many hobbies and interests through the years which included: collecting date nails, playing golf, fishing and hunting. He was involved with Ducks Unlimited for many years serving on their Sponsorship Committee. His last main passion was shooting sport clays. He was a charter member of Pines Gun Club serving as president for over ten years. His love of skeet and sporting clays carried him across the world, competing in every national competition from 1992 through 2004. He is the founder of the Rooter Open Sporting Clays Shoot which is the longest running sporting clay shoot in the nation. “Shorty” never met a stranger and he will be missed but not forgotten. Survivors include his brother, Morris Bemelman of Marion, SD; son, Coleman Bemelman and wife Brenda of Slidell, LA; daughter, Tracy Cartwright and husband Ralph of Lufkin, TX; daughter, Patricia Thompson and husband Mark of Lufkin, TX; daughter, Getawn Rodrigues, stationed at Fort Polk, LA; grandchildren, Ashley Stewart, Margie Thompson, Johnny Bemelman, Melinda Bemelman, Rachel Cartwright, Brandy Perez and Katie Beaudoin; great-grandchildren, Michael, Anthony and Alyssa Bemelman. He was preceded in death by his wife, Una Bemelman; parents, Harry and Mary Bemelman; and sister, Marvel Sturzenbecker. Pallbearers will be Mark Thompson, Ralph Cartwright, Lee Stewart, Danny Vines, Wayne Stone and Sam Rodrigues. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pines Gun Club, 1019 E. Denman Ave, Lufkin, TX 75901 in Mr. Bemelman’s name.