James Louis Montague

Jim was born January 21, 1951, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He was the middle child of ten children. He attended Ascension Catholic School for grades K – 8. While at Ascension, he played baseball, football, and basketball. Jim attended De La Salle High School and paid his own tuition by working three jobs as a golf caddy, dishwasher/server, and a gas station attendant.

He worked full time while attending the University of Minnesota. He graduated in just over four years with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and NO student loan debt. Beyond his bachelor’s degree, he also earned his CMA (Certified Management Accountant) certification and graduated with honors from the Graduate School of Banking.

Jim was employed at Wells Fargo Bank for 38 years as Finance Manager and in Mergers & Acquisitions. Because of his work ethic, professionalism, and dedication, he was named Controller and Vice President for the state of Colorado for Wells Fargo.

Jim enjoyed playing softball and was part of many championship teams. His favorite pastimes were playing with the grandchildren and slow dancing to love songs with his wife. His hobbies included golf, fixing things around the house, reading, woodworking, gardening, and jigsaw and crossword puzzles.

He was most proud of his 46-year marriage to the love of his life and the time he spent with his children and grandchildren. Some of his favorite memories included traveling with Rochelle to places like Ireland, Italy, the Bahamas, and St. Kitts, as well as several U.S. destinations. He also enjoyed the special family trips to Disney World when the kids were young and to Hawaii as adults. He liked to travel with his siblings to Cancun, Las Vegas, Fort Myers, and enjoyed trips back to Minnesota to his brother Tom’s cabin.

Jim was a very civic minded person and worked on the Institute of Management Accounting Committees. He served his Spirit of Christ church community through volunteer work including 10 years on the Finance Council, as a member of the Building Committee for planning the new church, as part of the Touch Ministry, and as a Eucharistic Minister.

He was a warrior who battled cancer for more than seven years, but he never wanted cancer to be what defined him. He endured chemo treatments twice and a month-long hospital stay, alone, for a stem cell transplant during the pandemic. Because of his weakened immune system, at the end of August, he battled a blood infection and COVID and was hospitalized twice. Finally, Jesus saw his body was too weak to complete the journey on his own and came to carry him home.

He is survived by his wife, Rochelle; his children: DeAnne Barrett (Anthony), Erica Montague, Alisha Montague, and James L. Montague II; grandchildren: Irie, Amber (Wesley), Allicia (Anthony), Sabrina, Jayden, Kendall, Amaya, Adam, Garrett, and Joshua; and great grandchildren: Jayson, Dillyn and Logyn. Siblings: John Montague, Patricia Johnson, Susan Knotz, Richard Montague (Patti), Colleen Morrow (Thomas), Jeanne Habstritt (Randy), Thomas Montague (Louise), Linda Carlson.

Preceded in death by his parents, Gale and John Montague; brother, Stephen Montague; brothers-in-law, Jerry Knotz and Dennis Johnson; sister-in-law, Donna Montague

Thank you to Dr. Michael Tees and the staff at Colorado Blood Cancer Institute; the staff at Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center; staff at Lutheran Medical Center; neighbors, family, and friends for all your support and love.

COME WITH ME -

God saw he was getting tired, and the cure was not to be.

So, he put his arms around him and whispered, “Come with me.”

With tearful hearts we watched him fade away.

Although we loved him dearly, we could not make him stay.

A golden heart stopped beating, hardworking hands to rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us, He only takes the best.

Three words that sum up Jim’s life are: FAITH, FAMILY, and STRENGTH

**In lieu of flowers, please send donations in memory of Jim Montague to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (link below).**

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