Chester James Thompson

Mr. Thompson was a teacher.

Services will be at 11 a.m. today at Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church.

He is survived by his wife, Kathie; two sons, Bill Braamse of San Diego and Steve Braamse of Lakeland, Florida; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorial contributions to the Friends of the Mesa County Library, 1425 N. Fifth St., Grand Junction 81501; or to the charity of one’s choice.

Chester “Jim” Thompson, age 80, died peacefully on Friday, September 4th in Grand Junction, Colorado.

Jim was born in Grosse Pointe, Michigan on June 23rd, 1935. It was in Michigan that Jim first developed his love of the outdoors. He was an avid outdoorsman and an accomplished archer. In addition to having a love of hunting, Jim competed successfully in several regional and national archery competitions.

Professionally, Jim held a variety of jobs throughout his adult life. Early on, he worked at a lumber mill in Oregon. He then returned to operate an archery shop in Bay City, Michigan before eventually obtaining his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education from Central Michigan University.

Jim spent most of his professional life working as a school teacher in Alcona County, Michigan, teaching both elementary grades and junior high school math. In 1997, Jim moved to Grand Junction, Colorado. He is survived by his wife Kathie, stepsons Bill and Steve Braamse, three grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Inurnment will be at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Columbarium in Grand Junction.