Jim Brundige
James Ernest “Jim” Brundige died March 5, 2023. He was born in Haxtun on Sept. 4, 1954, to Glenn Christie and Dorothy Jeane (Beckman) Brundige.
He was the first of the siblings to be born in Haxtun and the only one where his father, Glenn, was able to be in the delivery room during the birth. He joined his sister Linda and brother Bill at home in the country. He spent his early life on the family farm.
Jim loved being with family and was a favorite of his great-grandmother Florence Johnson, despite sometimes getting into mischief. On one memorable occasion, he got stuck inside an old TV aerial on Grandma and Grandpa Beckman’s farm when he determined that it would be easier to climb to the top from the inside. He also set fire to a wagon of grass hay while lighting a piece of hay like a fuse while playing “soldier” on that same farm.
Jim attended Haxtun Schools for all 12 years, graduating from Haxtun High School in 1973. While in high school, he met his future wife, Jody Westerman. Their first date was the Sweetheart dance in February 1971, when Jim was a sophomore and Jody was a freshman.
Jim loved sports; he played baseball, football and basketball and threw shot and discus in track. He was proud of being a Boarder League All-Star in baseball and placing in state track in discus as well as earning All-Conference and All-State in basketball, his favorite sport. Jim went on to play basketball for Trinidad State Junior College.
He loved supporting the Haxtun Bulldogs, especially when he was cheering on his daughter, Jamie, or his grandchildren, Bella and Jake. Jim never missed a game, meet or program, no matter how far he had to drive to get there. He and Jody were proud to be named Super Boosters in 1995.
After attending college at University of Colorado Boulder and graduating with a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Northern Colorado, Jim held several jobs as an accountant and internal auditor. During this time, he and Jody were married on May 2, 1976, and to this union was born their daughter, Jamie.
Jim and Jody would eventually move back to Haxtun when Jamie was in high school, where he worked as the hospital administrator for the Haxtun Hospital District. He would then land his dream job as co-owner and partner of Lone Wolf Operating Company. He enjoyed working with his partner, Doug, as well as his family for many years until he retired.
Jim loved his community. He was a lifetime member of the Haxtun United Methodist Church and served as treasurer for many years as well as a MYF co-leader while Jamie was in high school. He and Jody were honored to be named Quiet Disciples in 2021.
He also was a member of the Lions Club and served as president from 1998-1999, and was a board member of the Rural Essential Provider Health Network for many years. Jim also loved to travel, and he and Jody were blessed to go on many wonderful trips with friends and family over the years, including a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Italy with his family.
In later years, he stayed closer to home but enjoyed a yearly trip to Deadwood, South Dakota, with dear friends Merl and Mary Kay Knode.
During his two-year battle with cancer, he was blessed with support and encouragement from his cancer buddies Christi Anne Gibson, Rachel Herrera and Nada Bamford. He was blessed with the love, care and support of the staff at the David Walsh Cancer Center and Sidney Regional Medical Center and some amazing physicians and staff at North Colorado Medical Center and the Haxtun Hospital, where he was given the most amazing care and encouragement by a staff that became like family. HHD became a second home, and his final wish while at NCMC was to come home to Haxtun to be among his friends and family. His final breath was taken there, surrounded by love and kindness.
Jim’s great love was his family. They were the center of his life, and he loved them with all his heart. Jim loved his sweetheart Jody, and his only daughter Jamie was his pride and joy. Jamie’s husband Craig became like a son, and his grandchildren Bella and Jake were the light of his life — he loved being their Papa. He also adored his nieces and nephews and their children and loved hearing about their adventures. Jim was a wonderful caretaker to his parents and enjoyed traveling and spending hours debating with his sister Linda and brother Bill. He never met a stranger and loved to tell stories, and had an amazing memory, and was always reading and learning something new.
Jim was preceded in death by his father Glenn, mother Jeane and brother Bill.
He is survived by his wife Jody; daughter Jamie; son-in-law Craig; grandchildren Bella and Jake; sister Linda; and many beloved nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, in-laws, cousins and friends.
Jim’s funeral will be held Saturday, March 18, at 10:30 a.m. at the Haxtun United Methodist Church, officiated by Pastor Jeri Soens. Inurnment will take place at Haxtun Cemetery.
Baucke Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.