James (Jim) Joseph Weiand, 84, passed away peacefully on May 16th, 2020.
Jim was born on the family homestead near Beulah, North Dakota on August 26th, 1935. He was the first of five children born to Joseph and Regina Weiand. He worked on the family farm until he was drafted into the Army. One year later he received an honorable discharge. He then started work for a crew building an electrical transmission line from Montana to Colorado. While working in Hugo, Colorado Jim was hired by KC Electric as a lineman. There he met the love of his life, Shirley Elizabeth Clark. On June 2nd, 1962, they were united in marriage in Hugo. They were blessed with 5 children; Todd James, Mitzi Jo, Mark Alan, Tracy Ann, and Troy (Bud) Michael.
In 1964 KC Electric transferred him to Cheyenne Wells, where they raised their family. Immediately horses became part of the Weiand family. Jim became the 4H horse project leader where he served as the superintendent for 9 years. He then got the kids involved in the National Little Britches Association. Many hours were spent at the fairgrounds practicing rodeo with the kids. From 1993 to 2001 Jim and Shirley ran the annual Cheyenne Wells Little Britches Rodeo.
In 2000 Jim retired from KC Electric after almost 40 years of service. He then helped his son Mark and other farmers in the area for many more years. Jim was a very hard working, strong willed and proud man with a sense of humor. Horses were still a part of him & Shirley’s life going to the rodeos that the grandkids participated in. He also kept busy with his horse and buggy that all the neighbor kids loved to go for rides on. In 2018 Jim and Shirley were honored to be the Cheyenne County Fair Parade Marshalls where they rode through the parade with their horse & buggy.
Jim is preceded in death by his wife Shirley, his parents Joseph & Regina Weiand, brother Ron, and sister Lucille.
He is survived by his sons Todd (Dianna) Weiand, Mark (Lori) Weiand, Bud (Monica) Weiand and daughters Mitzi Scott (John) and Tracy (Stephen) Shull, grandkids Cutter (Kari) Weiand, Brian (Mike) Boyce, Kristi (Jeremy) Murphy, Karly Shull and special friend Chase Keller, Kelly Shull, Luke Shull, Brock Weiand, Rocky Weiand, Bailey Weiand, and Macie Weiand, 5 great grandsons – Jordy Weiand, Derringer Murphy, Kanin Murphy, Ridge Murphy and Baby Cutter & Kari Weiand due August 2020, and sisters Paulette Renke and Ann George.
Memorials may be made to the Cheyenne County Fairgrounds in James’ memory and may be left at or sent to the Eastern Colorado Bank, 162 W 1 S, Cheyenne Wells, Colorado 80810.