James B. Simms

James B. 'Jim' Simms, 95, passed away on Monday, January 11, 2016 in Denver, Colorado. James B. Simms had always shown sincerity, honesty, dedication, dependability and perseverance. That would be his motto for life. A ""renaissance man"" before you heard the term used much – he could do many things and would do them well. It probably all started when he was a kid growing up in St. Louis during the depression. He said he never had a new bicycle – he just built a bike from lots of old parts - and he applied this throughout his full life of 95 years. He learned house repairs, car repairs, plumbing, gardening, cooking, and baking. His bread baking skills surfaced when he was in the Coast Guard on an LST ship in the South Pacific during WWII from 1942-1946 His war time experiences changed his young life but he benefited from the GI bill by coming to Colorado and then graduating from the University of Denver in 1953. He once said, he never dreamed he would survive the war and have a wonderful life. He couldn't believe he had a beautiful family, his own home, relatives and friends he treasured. Jim was a loving husband to Margie/Mom for 60 years (1955) and they first met when Margie worked for the Daily Journal newspaper and she would go to City Hall to pick up the daily building department news. They eventually married in a double wedding with Margie's sister Thelma and her husband Frank Broemmel which was officiated by Margie and Thelma's brother Fr. Herbert Tegler. Once Jim had his 4 children; Dave (1956), Sue (1957), Steve (1962) and Patti (1967), his family was the most important part of his life. His work and livelihood were never more important than his family. In his career(s), that included 30 years with the City and County of Denver as a building inspector and then Technical Secretary to the Denver Zoning Board, he was dedicated, honest, and hardworking. He was frugal and wise at handling money. He often said ""any fool can spend money but it takes someone with brains to save it."" He made sure his family was never without food, shelter, or security. He surrounded himself with friends of his same mindset – hard working. He was so very proud of his children. He expected them to be sensible, responsible and contributing citizens and he said he certainly was never disappointed. He happily approved of their careers and their wise choice of spouses; Loretta, Mike, Debbie and Freddy. His seven grandchildren, Tyler, Andrew, Austin, Lauren, Mitchell, Michael and Jenna, all brought him joy and he found them remarkable. Keeping track of their involvements and interests broadened his life and gave him more reason to be thankful each day. He thanked God each and every day of his life for his many blessings. For the last 6 months of his life, he had in-home hospice care with many angels coming into his – and all of our daily lives. Including neighbors; Claude and his family and Hospice Nurses; Laurie, Angie, and Naomi, plus many others. All were all are blessings to our family. He was a wonderful husband, an outstanding Dad, a loving grandfather, a sincere brother-in-law, a caring uncle, a dedicated friend, and an upstanding citizen with a strong love of God and country. A Recitation of the Rosary will be read in his honor on Sunday, January 17, 2016 at Three O'Clock in the Afternoon at Horan & McConaty Family Chapel, 3101 South Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, Colorado, 80227. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Monday, January 18, 2016 at Ten O'Clock in the Morning at Notre Dame Catholic Church, 2190 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado, 80219. Interment will be Monday, January 18, 2016 at One-thirty in the Afternoon at Fort Logan National Cemetery, 3698 South Sheridan Boulevard, Denver, Colorado. Please share your memories of Jim and condolences for the family by signing the guestbook below.