James Eugene Temple

JAMES EUGENE TEMPLE, ARVADA CO

James Eugene Temple, also known as Jim, Jimmy, Jet, and “Oink” by a few special friends, passed away on October 31, 2020 at the age of 79. On that day, the world lost a genuinely great man. Just ask anyone who knew him well. To his kids, they would say he was strong, fearless, adventurous,  always made them feel safe, and he was a connector that touched many lives. To his students, he was the football coach with the Marine haircut that you were scared to death of, but once you got to know him, he was a big teddy bear. And to his wife of 22 years, Brooks, she would tell you that he was the love of her life and she could always be herself with him, that he didn’t like change, and he loved football and red meat.

Jim was born on July 22, 1941, in Pittsburg, and spent most of his youth in Distant, PA and Fort Lauderdale, FL. In 1959, he graduated from Red Bank Regional High School, New Bethlehem, PA and attended Anderson College in Anderson, Indiana on a football and track scholarship (1959-1963). He taught a couple years at Madison Heights High School in Anderson and soon after moved to Colorado. He was a science teacher (which kept him from being drafted into the Vietnam War) and coach at Carmody Jr. High (Lakewood), and a physical education teacher at Everitt Jr. High (Wheat Ridge) and  Pomona High School (Arvada).  He also coached football with his former student, Dave Logan, at Arvada West High School from 1993-1996. 

Jim was an avid outdoorsman.  He enjoyed all types of hunting, camping,  snowmobiling, searching for arrowheads and artifacts, and he built trailers,  wood stoves and log cabins…..he had doodles and project ideas drawn everywhere!  Jim was also an entrepreneur. For 14 years, he ran his own white water rafting business in CO, Idaho, Utah and Wyoming during the summers. He eventually earned a patent for a raft frame with fixtures he felt were superior to others in the business.  He was a man with many skills and interests, and had a circle of friends to match each one.  No matter where you went with Jim, it was likely you would run into someone he knew.  He loved striking up conversations with everyone he encountered.   Most recently, he asked every nurse or hospital worker that came into his room where they were from, how they got into the health field, and if they played sports.  He was a man loved by many, and was a great friend you could always count on.  

Jim’s health failed him in the past couple of years, and he left behind his wife, Brooks; his first wife and mother to his kids, Judy Havens; his children, Jamie Johnson, Jessica Pacheco and her husband Jason, and son Jade Temple and his wife Megan. He had eight wonderful grandchildren he absolutely adored; Madison, Emerson, and Jamison Johnson; Rayen and Sienna Pacheco; and Braden, Chase and Brielle Temple.

A memorial service will be held Tuesday, November 24 at 10 a.m. at Grace Church, 6969 Sheridan Blvd., Arvada, CO  80003. Grace Church follows all appropriate COVID protocols and recently had a commercially installed Reme Halo air filtration system to enhance the safety for all attendees. 

The family has asked that guests come dressed casually, as that’s what Jim preferred. In lieu of flowers, you may make a donation to the Jim Temple Fund at revitalcolorado.org., a non-profit organization devoted to supporting local first responders.  Pay online or checks can be sent to Revital Colorado, 3578 Northpark Dr., Westminster, CO  80031.  Be sure to note the Jim Temple Fund.