James Allen Zavodny was born on November 15, 1929, in Seward County, Nebraska to James Allen and Olga (Lodel) Zavodny Sr. and passed away on April 17, 2013, in Lincoln, Nebraska at the age of 83 years, 5 months and 2 days. Jim was raised on a farm 1 1/2 miles south of the Butler County line. He was a 1948 graduate of Seward High School. Jim was drafted into the United States Army on August 17, 1951, in Omaha, Nebraska and served in Korea. He was honorably discharged on May 20, 1953, at Camp Carson, Colorado. He returned to Nebraska where he farmed for a couple of years. He married Arlene Janecek on February 20, 1954, in Ulysses, Nebraska. The couple moved to Lincoln where Jim worked in construction until he began working at Goodyear. He worked there until his retirement. Jim liked old farming equipment and the history of the old farming techniques. He also enjoyed tinkering with his old tractors at the Janecek homestead in Butler County. Jim enjoyed watching NASCAR, not just the drivers but the mechanics of the whole team and how they worked together. Jim is survived by his son, Alan Zavodny of Lincoln, Nebraska and numerous cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Arlene on October 10, 2006; sister Dolores, and brother Robert. To this obituary we add our thoughts, prayers and memories of life shared with Jim.