James Henry Clodfelder, 85, passed away on August 28, 2022 at the South Platte Nursing Home in Brush.  Jim was born on July 30, 1937 in Rollinsville, Colorado, the second child of Glenn and Mary Clodfelder.  His family lived in Elizabeth, Colorado until moving to the Sterling area in 1949.  Jim attend school in Sterling through the 8 ^th grade.   In 1950, at the age of 13, he went to work as a farmhand for Edwin Imhof.  During that time, he met and married the love of his life, Janet Brown.  They were married on July 22, 1955.  Jim was 19 and Janet was 15.  They were devoted partners, and spent 55 wonderful years together.  In June of 1964, they were blessed with a daughter Debbie.

In 1969, Jim and Janet moved to, Platner, Colorado where he worked at the Platner elevator for two years.   He then took a job working for Sparky Ison at Ison Oil Company, where he drove a semi and transported gas and diesel from Denver twice a day for over 25 years.  He once drove a 1978 Peterbilt over 1 million miles. He was the only driver of that truck and it was never rebuilt.

Jim and Janet were avid bowlers.  It was a big part of their life.  They purchased and operated Esquire Lanes in Akron from 1980 to 1990.  Following the sale of the bowling alley, Jim went to work for Washington County. His main job was to drive a maintainer and do road upkeep in summer and shovel snow in winter.  He worked there until his retirement at the age of 73.  After Janet's passing in 2011, he lived for a time in Sterling, then moved to Brush in 2019 to be closer to his daughter, Debbie.  He was very happy in Brush with his constant companion , his cat, Pretty Boy.

Throughout his life, Jim was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather.  His family gave him great joy.  Jim was known as a quiet man of few words, but sometimes his stubborn German heritage would make an appearance.  A man who was a hard-worker, always busy with some project.  Always building or fixing something.  He was a very talented woodworker.  Toy boxes, cedar chests, windmills, name it, and he could build it.  He had an impressive train collection that took up nearly the entire basement of their Akron home. He loved bowling, playing cards with his and Janet's brothers and sisters. In his free time he and Janet loved to explore Colorado with their friends, Jim and Benita Reiman.

Jim was a quiet, loving, family man who will be missed by many.  He was preceded in death by his parents, beloved wife Janet, Sisters Mary Alice Wiebers and Peggy Johnson, brother Martin Clodfelder, Brother-in-law Jimmie Brown, Sisters-in-law Mary Hulkovich and Linda Galvin, 3 nieces and two nephews.   Left to mourn his passing are his daughter Debbie and son-in-law Sam Spear, Grandsons, Tyler and wife Stephanie Spear, Andrew Spear and Austin Spear, Great-grandsons Matthew and Nathan Spear and many nieces, nephews and dear friends.

A Memorial Service was held Saturday, September 3, 2022 at the Akron Cemetery Gazebo.  Inurnment followed at the Akron Cemetery.  Memorial donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital or to Steiner Sils Affordable Vet Care.