Jim Jochems, Letterman & Great Friend To CU, Passes Away
June 09, 2015 | Men's Basketball
(Much of the below reprinted from on-line obituary at HoweMortuary.com)
Jim Jochems (“Yokes”), a three-time letterman in men's basketball in the late 1950s, passed away last Sunday (June 7, 2015) as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident the previous day not too far from his home in Longmont.
He was surrounded by his family at the time of his passing and had just celebrated his 80th birthday 10 days earlier.
Born James Francis Jochems on May 29, 1935, in Wichita, Kansas, to Frank Jochems and Isabell Bandy, he spent much of his early childhood in rural Kansas and Kansas City. The family then moved to Denver, where he attended elementary school and Maury Junior High.
At Denver's East High School and South High School, his 6-8 height helped him to excel in basketball. After leaving South High School in 1952, Jim turned down an opportunity to play basketball at the University of Kansas so he could stay in Colorado and play in Boulder for CU and for coaches H.B. Lee and Sox Walseth.
He appeared in 48 games for the Buffaloes, with modest averages of 3.6 points and 3.8 rebounds per game, and was sidelined much of his junior year with a knee injury. But his love for the CU program was second-to-none, as he was a long-time season ticket holder in basketball and was a generous donor to the entire athletic program, most recently making a proud gift to CU's Sustainable Excellence Initiative.
He was honored as one of CU's Living Legends early last decade, a program which recognizes those alumni 50 years after they earned their first letter.
While at CU Jim married his first wife, Virginia Montgomery, whom he dated at South High, and they had four children. They lived in Boulder, Pueblo and in North Carolina (Charlotte and Concord).
He graduated from CU with a degree in Pharmacy and worked for Parke Davis, then started a successful independent pharmacy medical center in Concord. Jim's first marriage ended in the mid 1970's and he returned to Colorado, where he continued working as a pharmacist at Sullivan's Drug Store and Francis Street Pharmacy in Longmont. During the 1980's, he worked at various Walgreen's across the region until he retired in 2005. He was a very successful pharmacist who customers remembered partly because he was so tall, yet also because he was so giving, accommodating and helpful to his customers.
In 1982, Jim met his wife of 33 years, Marion Baker, of Longmont, while waiting on her as a pharmacy customer. They created a long and happy life together in Longmont. Jim will be fondly remembered as a great story teller, avid sports fan, and the ultimate CU Buffs alum, attending most home football and basketball games whenever he was able. He had season tickets for over 40 years to The Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Ga., and shared that experience with many friends and family.
Some would call Jim Jochems a character – even a card - someone not afraid to go out on a limb to help others, yet a very funny and quick witted man. He lived his last few years caring for his beloved wife Marion, spending time with family and friends and following golf, basketball, football and baseball. In addition to being an avid CU fan, Jim was also a consummate Broncos and Rockies fan. He loved to read, and he was deeply engaged with political and charitable organizations throughout his entire life. His generosity lives on in the lives of his children, all of whom continue his community engagement and service in a variety of ways.
He is survived by his wife Marion of Longmont; children Ginny Leigh (Patrick) Jochems-Downey of Lafayette; Julia Anne (Don) Jochems-Shaw of Seattle; James (Brenda) Jochems of Leesburg, Va.; Kevin Jochems of Arvada; Scott Baker of Longmont; Erin (David) Ulrich of Boulder; and Robin (Carlos) Martinez of San Diego; a sister Judith (Foye) Moloney of White City, Kansas; and eight grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
A Celebration of Jim's Life will be held at 3:00 p.m., Wednesday, June 10 at the Howe Mortuary Chapel, located at 439 Coffman Street in Longmont.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Bonfils Blood Center Foundation, 717 Yosemite St, Denver, CO 80234 or the American Red Cross, Mile High Chapter (flood relief), 444 Sherman St., Denver, CO 80203.