Obituary of Jimmie D. Nunnenkamp Sr.

Surrounded by his family and friends, Jimmie Dale Nunnenkamp Sr., aged 80, died peacefully at home in Atco on October 30, 2015 following a long and valiant battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He is survived by his beloved wife of 60 years Dolly (Grear); his children Bonnie Franchetti (Albert) of Elm, Jimmie Dale Jr. (Mary Jane) of Atco, and Wendi Lindberg (Charles) of Ocean City; his grandchildren Eric and Ryan (Deon) Franchetti, Jackie, Jimmie III (Tamina) and Kayla Nunnenkamp, and Aria Lindberg; and his great-grandchildren Jaiden, Gavin, Drake, Davina, Serenity, Karma, Patience, Logan and Kaydence. He is also survived by his brothers Val Sr. (Helen) of Berlin and Ronald of Cedar Brook, five nieces and nephews, and five great-nieces and nephews. Jimmie worked hard all his life. As a young boy he had paper routes and worked after school at his father’s broom factory. He co-owned his first business, V & J Sporting Goods, with his brother Val while still in high school. Also as teenagers Jimmie and Val formed The Rambling Rangers, a country western band, with Bill Cuthbert and Joe Caporale. Together they played in venues throughout South Jersey, with Jimmie serving as the lead singer and rhythm guitarist. In 1956 the brothers purchased the Golden Nugget Tavern in Tansboro, which allowed them to perform in their own establishment. At the “Nugget” Jimmie and Val entertained patrons for 25 years and hosted some of the premier musicians of the region. They ran the Nugget for over 45 years, before passing ownership to Jimmie’s son, Jimmie Jr. (Porky). Jimmie was a lifelong member of Holy Communion Lutheran Church in Berlin which was co-founded by his father Frederick. He was a Naval Reservist, a longstanding member of Tansboro’s Flying Buck Gunning Club and a former President of the Waterford Township Rotary Club, where he was named a Paul Harris Fellow. He loved playing baseball, meeting his lifelong love Dolly at a game when they were just 15-years- old. An avid outdoorsman, Jimmie was a passionate hunter and fisherman. He traveled at every opportunity and explored most areas of the country. Jimmie had a huge heart; he loved his wife, children, and grandchildren deeply and unconditionally. He was a loyal brother, uncle, and friend. He loved to laugh and have fun and spent every possible moment active and enjoying life. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him. The family would like to express their tremendous gratitude to three individuals who were instrumental in Jimmie’s care in his final months: Bernard Gadzey, his devoted caregiver, of Griswold Home Care, and Suzanne Waltimyer, RN, and Tomasz Jaworski of Samaritan Hospice. A viewing will be held Thursday evening, November 5th at 5:00pm – 9:00pm and Friday morning 9:30am – 10:30am, November 6th at The Holy Communion Lutheran Church, 442 South Route 73, Berlin, NJ 08009. A Funeral Service will follow Friday’s viewing at 10:30am. Internment Berlin Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Holy Communion Lutheran Church, 442 South Route 73, Berlin, NJ 08009 or Samaritan Hospice, 5 Eves Drive, Suite 300, Marlton, NJ 08053.