James Roberts
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Posted on May 21, 2025, 1:43 PM
On February 10th, 2025, James passed away quietly at his mother's home in Henderson, Colorado. Jim was born at 7:00 pm on December 1, 1950, at St. Luke's Hospital in Denver, Colorado to Carl and Alma Roberts. Carl, a WWII veteran and industrial mechanic, and Alma, and executive secretary, both formerly of Greeley, Colorado.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying skiing, hiking, camping, and fishing in the Colorado mountains. He loved to travel and explore new places. Jim loved all sports, and was a longtime season ticket holder of the CU Buffalos football and the Colorado Rockies. If he was inside, he either watching westerns or sports.
As a toddler, he loved food so much that his first word was "pie." As a child he enjoyed gardening with his father so much that it became a lifelong love. He learned to bake, cook and food preservation from his mother.
As a child, Jim was very active in 4-H at the club, county, state, and national levels, for which he received many awards and scholarships. He made lifelong friends through the organization.
Jim graduated from Brighton High School in 1968 and attended the University of Colorado, majoring in political science, history, and German. He took a break from his studies to serve his country, but later returned to continue his education. In 1971, he was inducted into the US Marine Reserves First Battalion Platoon 1072 in San Diego, California.
Jim was a member of the First German Congregational Church of Denver (now Fellowship Covenant Church), where he was baptized, confirmed, and married. Jim was married to Sheryl Panzer in 1976, and in 1983, they were blessed with a son, Carl A. Roberts. They later divorced. He married Cynthia Oken, and later divorced. Jim's partner later in life was Lori Jackson until their separation.
His greatest joys in life were the skiing, camping, fishing and hunting trips with his son, Carl. He always commented they were the time of his life, and wishing it never ended. His second favorite times were their outings to their favorite sporting events.
Jim always looked forward to seeing his extended family at family dinners, or events. He was a man of traditional values who embraced his Germans from Russia heritage, foods and traditions, and loved being able to share this passion with everyone.
Jim was passionate about handball, as a younger adult he received awards on a semi-professional level, and worked as a part-time instructor. He made many wonderful and supportive friends in the handball community. He continued playing handball at the seniors level until his illness prevented him from continuing.
He was an avid gardener who grew fruits and vegetables, and took pride in cooking, baking, preserving and canning the harvest. Jim had many friends from taking his dogs for long daily walks. His last dogs were Dill, his constant companion for over 14 years, and Vernie Drago, whom he adopted shortly before his illness.
Jim was a kind and loving person who would gladly lend a helping to anybody in need. In the late 90s, he donated bone marrow to an unknown person with a high level match. Throughout his life, Jim donated gallons of blood through the Bonfils Blood Center drives he coordinated on the CU Boulder Campus.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Carl Roberts (Henderson, CO) . He is survived by his son, Carl A. Roberts (Fairbanks, AK); his mother, Alma Roberts (Henderson, CO); his sister, Carolyn Roberts (Henderson, CO); and many loving cousins in Colorado and throughout the U.S.
A memorial service and burial will be held at Olinger Highland Mortuary, 10201 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229 at 1:00 pm on May 24th, 2025.
Donations may be made in his name to his favorite charities: Shriners Hospitals for Children; Wounded Warrior Project; or your local Humane Society.
Jim was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying skiing, hiking, camping, and fishing in the Colorado mountains. He loved to travel and explore new places. Jim loved all sports, and was a longtime season ticket holder of the CU Buffalos football and the Colorado Rockies. If he was inside, he either watching westerns or sports.
As a toddler, he loved food so much that his first word was "pie." As a child he enjoyed gardening with his father so much that it became a lifelong love. He learned to bake, cook and food preservation from his mother.
As a child, Jim was very active in 4-H at the club, county, state, and national levels, for which he received many awards and scholarships. He made lifelong friends through the organization.
Jim graduated from Brighton High School in 1968 and attended the University of Colorado, majoring in political science, history, and German. He took a break from his studies to serve his country, but later returned to continue his education. In 1971, he was inducted into the US Marine Reserves First Battalion Platoon 1072 in San Diego, California.
Jim was a member of the First German Congregational Church of Denver (now Fellowship Covenant Church), where he was baptized, confirmed, and married. Jim was married to Sheryl Panzer in 1976, and in 1983, they were blessed with a son, Carl A. Roberts. They later divorced. He married Cynthia Oken, and later divorced. Jim's partner later in life was Lori Jackson until their separation.
His greatest joys in life were the skiing, camping, fishing and hunting trips with his son, Carl. He always commented they were the time of his life, and wishing it never ended. His second favorite times were their outings to their favorite sporting events.
Jim always looked forward to seeing his extended family at family dinners, or events. He was a man of traditional values who embraced his Germans from Russia heritage, foods and traditions, and loved being able to share this passion with everyone.
Jim was passionate about handball, as a younger adult he received awards on a semi-professional level, and worked as a part-time instructor. He made many wonderful and supportive friends in the handball community. He continued playing handball at the seniors level until his illness prevented him from continuing.
He was an avid gardener who grew fruits and vegetables, and took pride in cooking, baking, preserving and canning the harvest. Jim had many friends from taking his dogs for long daily walks. His last dogs were Dill, his constant companion for over 14 years, and Vernie Drago, whom he adopted shortly before his illness.
Jim was a kind and loving person who would gladly lend a helping to anybody in need. In the late 90s, he donated bone marrow to an unknown person with a high level match. Throughout his life, Jim donated gallons of blood through the Bonfils Blood Center drives he coordinated on the CU Boulder Campus.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Carl Roberts (Henderson, CO) . He is survived by his son, Carl A. Roberts (Fairbanks, AK); his mother, Alma Roberts (Henderson, CO); his sister, Carolyn Roberts (Henderson, CO); and many loving cousins in Colorado and throughout the U.S.
A memorial service and burial will be held at Olinger Highland Mortuary, 10201 Grant St, Thornton, CO 80229 at 1:00 pm on May 24th, 2025.
Donations may be made in his name to his favorite charities: Shriners Hospitals for Children; Wounded Warrior Project; or your local Humane Society.
