Jim Blake

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Jimmy Lee “Jim” Blake was born Dec. 18, 1946, to Ernest Ralph Blake and Lois Arlene (Skiles) Blake in Julesburg. He died Jan. 8, 2020, in Wray at the age of 73.

Jim attended Julesburg schools, graduating from Julesburg High School with the class of 1964. He received his bachelor’s degree at Nebraska Christian College in Norfolk, Nebraska, graduating in 1969. Later Jim attended Hope International University in Fullerton, California, where he received his master’s and theology degree, graduating in 1998.

Jim married Sharon Lee (Hilton) Blake on June 4, 1967, in Norfolk. This union was blessed with three children: Casey, Monica and Andrea.

Jim served as a minister at First Christian Church of Holyoke, Church of Christ in Storm Lake, Iowa, First Christian Church of Gillette, Wyoming, North Christian Church of Cheyenne, Wyoming, First Christian Church in Burlington and the Christian Church of Chester, Nebraska. Along with the ministry, Jim also kept busy with being a substitute teacher, a referee for football and basketball, an activities bus driver and an ambulance driver.

Jim was always busy in the community. He was a member of the Kiwanis and the Lions Club, and he served on the board of Platte Valley Bible College in Scottsbluff, Nebraska. He enjoyed serving in his communities, including flipping pancakes at Cheyenne Frontier Days.

Jim traveled to India in 1991 and again in 2001 to serve. He enjoyed a variety of sports — golf, football, old man basketball league, the Holyoke triathlons and playing cricket with the kids in India.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Lois Blake.

He will be greatly missed by his wife, Sharon Blake of Holyoke; son, Casey Blake and wife Bobbie; granddaughter, Alexia Blake of Holyoke; daughter, Monica Powell and husband Merle of Scottsbluff; grandson, Wyatt Powell and wife Brittany of Hastings, Nebraska; granddaughters, Whitney Powell of Hastings and Havyn Powell and Madysen Powell of Scottsbluff; daughter, Andrea Absmeier and husband Izak of Brighton; grandson, Riley of Brighton; step-granddaughters, Erica Weber of Sterling and Katie Baquera and Bobby of Fort Morgan, and their children; brother, Robert Blake and wife Peggy of Sterling; brother, Eugene Blake and Debbie; sister, Patsy Goff and husband Mark of Grand Lodge, Michigan; brother, Ricky Blake and Heidi of Wichita Falls, Texas; and many nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

The memorial service was held Jan. 14 at First Christian Church in Holyoke, with inurnment at the Julesburg Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Jim Blake Memorial, which will be given to First Christian Church in Holyoke or Hillcrest Care Center in Wray.

Baucke Funeral Home directed the service.

Holyoke Enterprise

970-854-2811 (Phone)

130 N Interocean Ave
PO Box 297
Holyoke CO 80734