James J. "Jaspur" Ball

Jim was born November 15, 1929 in Santa Fe, New Mexico to George and Elnora Ball. In 1933, his brother Eugene was born and remained his best friend, confidante and companion. In 1936, Jim’s family moved back to Denver where the family’s roots were. Jim began kindergarten at Barnum Elementary school. Later, he attended Lake Junior High and West High School, graduating in 1948. In 1947, he joined the Colorado Air National Guard. After graduation, he attended one year at Colorado A&M (now CSU) in Fort Collins. He then entered the newly founded U. S. Air Force, taking advantage of the training they offered in aircraft mechanics school at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. He worked reconditioning aircraft at Cannon Air Force Base in Clovis, New Mexico during the Korean Conflict. He was selected to attend the detonation of a 5 kiloton atomic bomb at the Atomic Proving Ground in Nevada in the spring of 1952. After his active duty ended, Jim remained in the Air National Guard for 16 years, working as a mechanic on jet fighters F-80 thru F-100.

On July 16, 1955 he was united in marriage to Darlene Wahl at Singsaas Lutheran Church, rural Hendricks, Minnesota. They made their home in west Denver and began a family: Susan (Michael) Horn of Monticello, Indiana, Cynthia (David) Schiappa of Lorane, Oregon, John Ball (Cheryl Kessell) of Omaha, Nebraska and Elizabeth (Michael) Boxler of Golden, Colorado.

In 1957, Jim joined the Martin Company, working on many space projects including Titan I and II, Gemini Launch and Skylab. He was laid off in 1974 and found a job he truly loved at Dravo Corporation, a construction and engineering firm in Denver. In 1982, he returned to Martin Marietta and retired from there in 1989. He went on to work for Robbins Engineers and Constructors and Enterprise Leasing to keep busy until fulltime retirement.

Jim was active in the Golden Gun Club, Skyline Hunting and Fishing Club, the Colorado Gun Collectors and was a volunteer instructor for hunter education. He attended many muzzle loading rendezvous and fur trade events, including a trip to New York where he participated in events commemorating the French and Indian War of 1754-1766. He was a talented woodworker and gunsmith. In later years, he developed an interest in gardening and created a xeriscape garden in the back yard, which he took pride and pleasure in. He grew the best zucchini and crook-necked squash and was always looking for new ways to cook them. He spent many hours watering, weeding and caring for his beautiful lawn.

He and his brother visited Ireland in 2000, where they had many adventures and found the cottage that had been their family’s home in County Sligo. He loved visiting museums and historical monuments. In 2013, he was invited on an Honor Flight with his brother and really enjoyed his time at the monuments in Washington D. C.

Jim and Darlene traveled to Santa Fe and Albuquerque often, where they loved eating at various Mexican restaurants. They made memorable trips to New Orleans, Washington D.C. and Banff National Park. They also made many journeys to Oregon, Indiana, Nebraska, South Dakota and Minnesota to visit family and friends. Jim’s last trip was to Lorane, Oregon, where he enjoyed his time with Cindy, Dave, Ben and their menagerie of animals including their dog Buster who spent many hours in Jim’s lap.

Jim had many pets over the years. Many will remember Jim’s faithful companion Toby, an unattractive dog who pulled Jim into a ditch, fracturing his back. Jim was very devoted to Toby, spending years checking his urine to determine how much insulin to inject him with. After Darlene’s death in December of 2015, her cat Juno surprised Jim by transferring his affections to Jim, even sleeping with him at night and sitting in his lap while he watched television.

Jim is survived by his brother, his four children, five grandsons: Ian Kimsey, Walter Horn (Tiffany), James Herman, Benjamin Herman and Nicholas Boxler, one step-granddaughter Cynthia Butler, cousins Jessie Brundage and Lolita Lebsack, nephews Bob and Bill Ball, and a host of other loving relatives and friends. Jim was preceded in death by his wife of 60 years, his parents and grandson John Thomas Horn.

Jim’s family sincerely thanks Collier Hospice for their loving care of him in his last days and Atonement Lutheran Church where Jim and Darlene have been members for years and encourage memorial donations be given to either organization. Additionally, donations may be given to the Commemorative Air Force, which Jim supported for many years.