James Roberts

Jim was the only child born to parents, Eldin & Elsie Roberts, on March 10, 1930 in Ogallala, Nebraska. His early years were spent on the family’s desolate farm in a one-bedroom house in Farnam, Nebraska. He would write later that he did not care for the farm at all: “it just wasn’t his thing.” In 1941, the family moved to 2056 Wall Street in Idaho Springs, Colorado. There he attended school through the 10th grade. At the age of 15, World War II broke out and life changed with war bonds and rationing. He met Alice Tomlin while in school and they were married in October 1949. In 1951, he joined the US Navy where he would finish High School and earn his diploma. He was stationed at Barbers Point Naval Air Station, Hawaii from 1952-1955. Jim & Alice welcomed their first daughter Barbara while in Hawaii. A few short years later, at home in Boulder, Colorado would arrive their second daughter, Kathy.

Jim found his career niche when he was hired by Public Service Company of Colorado as an electric lineman in 1956. He loved the job and the men he worked with. He was part of the generation that built the power grid for Boulder and surrounding areas. In the late 70’s till his retirement in 1986 he worked on trouble repair which included everything from streetlight maintenance to rescuing kitties stranded on power poles. His retirement was bittersweet, but he would tell his family he did not miss working out in the bad weather which he had constantly dealt with for 31 years.

After retirement from PSCO, Jim worked part time alongside his son-in law at Wesley D. Conda Inc., a trucking, excavating & crushing company. There he drove commercial trucks and was able to be among close family and friends. The fact that he earned a paycheck was a second thought. He would have paid them to just be around the garage. Jim loved cars and trucks both passenger and commercial. Anyone who knew him remembers the red trucks he restored and drove over the years.

Early in 1997, Jim lost his first wife Alice to lung cancer. She was 65 years old. Later that same year a mutual friend would introduce Jim to his second wife Rose Miller. They were married in September of 1997 and spent the next 18 years making each other very happy. They both grew up in Idaho Springs, Colorado but didn’t know each other as children. However, they knew a lot of the same people and loved sharing stories with each other about growing up in Idaho Springs and even attended a few Idaho Springs High School reunions together. Jim lost Rose in 2015; he would say she was the love of his life.

In 2016 Jim received his pin for 50-plus years (lifetime member) of the Fraternal Order of Elks, most recently Longmont Lodge No. 1055. Jim enjoyed the friendship of his brother members and the benefit of other Elks lodges while traveling throughout the country. Jim was devoted to his family and friends who would say that he was a kind and caring person, a gentle giant who never met a stranger. He made everyone in his presence feel special and treasured and he will be missed by all who knew him.

Jim is survived by his daughters Barb Conda (Nick) of Longmont, Colorado and Katherine Gray (Patrick) of Aurora, Colorado; Grandchildren Nikki Dorsey (Gabe), Kristine Valvo (Brant) and Dave Gray (Viki); Great Grandchildren Gennaro, Belle, Katie and Taylor. Also included are Rose’s daughters Victoria Bryan (Frank) of Boulder, Colorado, Lorrie Holt (Craig-deceased) of Lexington, Ohio and Linda Hays (deceased) (Bob) of Fort Worth, Texas.

In his later years Jim realized the significance of his years of service in the military. He respected and acknowledged other veterans of all branches of the military. Therefore, the family request in lieu of flowers that Memorial Contributions be made to the Wounded Warrior Project.