James (Jim) Baumann

James (Jim) Baumann

9/21/33 – 2/21/16

Jim Baumann, 82 of Montrose formally of the Longmont area, passed away unexpectedly on February 21, 2016, at Montrose Memorial Hospital.  He was born in West Allis, Wisconsin, to Joseph and Rose Baumann.  After graduating from Pius XI High School and a few years of college, he joined the Air Force where he served in Japan as a Radar Man.  After his discharge he returned to the U.S. and trained to be an Air Traffic Controller with the FAA.  He worked in numerous air-traffic control centers around the country including Denver Air Route Traffic Control Center in Longmont CO.  He retired from the FAA in 1990 after 32 years and returned to Mead, Colorado, where he had bought a 100-acre farm in 1966.

He enjoyed working the farm and building a grass hay business.  He enjoyed his second vocation of being a farmer.  In 1998, he married Sarah (Sally) Macy.  They enjoyed eight more years on the farm before moving to Montrose in 2006.  He and Sally enjoyed gardening and they built a large garden where Jim’s garden was grapes and berries, especially black berries.  Jim canned jams and jellies for himself and friends.  He was a member of the Woodworkers Guild of Wester Colorado, where he made many friends and learned to make various items.  He was president of his Montrose HOA for a few years.  Jim was easy-going, honest, and he had a good sense of humor.

Jim is survived by his wife of 17 years, Sally, his niece, Jeannette (Paul) Hytry, his great nephew, Travis Hytry.  He is also survived by his brother’s-in-law, Thomas (Joy) Macy, Paul (Janet) Macy, and sister-in-law Barbara (Jim) Tharp, and niece, Ellie Tharp.  He is also survived by long-time friends Richard and Arline Orlovsky and Don and Sally Gerber. Jim was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Joe Baumann and sister-in-law Annie Baumann.

It was his wish to be cremated.  His Celebration of Life service will be held at Crippin Funeral Home on Friday, March 4, 2016 at 11am.  There will be a reception after the service.  Since Jim loved animals, memorial contributions may be made to Montrose Animal Protection Agency, PO Box 2009, Montrose, CO 81402.

There will be a gathering on the Front Range near his old farm for friends in the area in late May where his ashes will be spread “in the country” as he requested.  Crippin Funeral Home & Crematory in Montrose, is assisting the family.