James Richard Sharp of Mesa, Arizona, formerly of Lakewood, Colorado, passed away suddenly on May 20, 2021. James was born in August 1938 and is predeceased by his parents, Wayne & Gladys Sharp of St. Louis, Missouri, his former wife, Grace J Sharp, as well as two sisters, Jeanne Klein & Joan Griggs and a brother, John Sharp. He is survived by his sister Judy Streufert (Jim); his special friend, Moira Ormiston; his children – Heather J Windheuser (Michael), Timothy W. Sharp, Sandra R Glick (Bruce); daughter in law – Heather M Sharp; 10 grandchildren – Lydia White (Kyle), TJ Sharp (Julie), Laura Nordgren (Lars), Bradley Sharp, Matthew Windheuser, Evan Tyler Sharp, Kaitlyn McKenzie (John), Nate Glick (Chelsea), Andrew Windheuser and Danielle Glick; and his 6 great grandchildren – Courtney & Caleb White, Sloan & John Sharp and Josiah & Bayly McKenzie.
James was born in Kansas City Missouri and graduated from Southwest High School in Kansas City, Missouri in 1956. After high school he attended Finley Engineering College while working full time at A&P. He married Grace Jean Booth in summer 1959 and their first child was born in late 1960. Jim graduated with a degree in electrical engineering in 1963 and immediately moved his small family to Colorado to begin a successful career as an industrial electrical contractor in Denver. During his career, he was active in ABC, Associated Builders and Contractors, serving as President for a period. He held contractor licenses in many states, specializing in electrical design for large industrial plants like sewer plants, jail facilities and meat processing plants. He never missed a chance to encourage young, aspiring electricians to consider industrial electrical training. In 2010, James retired to Mesa AZ where he enjoyed playing tennis daily, smoking meat on his smoker for friends and family, playing guitar with friends, and doing odd electrical jobs for people in his retirement park.
One of his greatest pleasures was spending time in the mountains of Colorado. He owned land in what became Keystone Ski Resort and his family made many wonderful memories in the house he and Grace built on that property. In addition, he thoroughly enjoyed hunting mule deer and elk near the Wyoming border each fall for fifty years. Jim was a great Dad, Husband, Brother, Grandfather, Businessman, and Friend to many. His faith in Christ was important to him and he encouraged his family to that end always. He will be missed very much by his family.
A memorial service is planned for August 7, 2021 10am at Waterstone Community Church in Littleton Colorado, with a scattering ceremony to follow on his beloved hunting mountain.
In lieu of flowers, please donate to the Jim Sharp Electrical Trade School Scholarship Fund. Contact Sandi at [email protected] for donation details.