James "Jim" Waltz

James P. "Jim" Waltz II, geologist, professor and entrepreneur, passed away August 23, 2005, at Columbine Care Center West, surrounded by his family. Born on Nov. 2, 1936, to Josephine n ¬e Bonnett and Earle Waltz in Goshen, Ind., Jim grew up there with his brother, Earle "Bud" Waltz Jr., and graduated from Goshen High School as president of his senior class. Jim attended DePauw University in Greencastle, Ind., where he was an active member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity and spent summers working abroad before obtaining a bachelor's degree in 1958. He next attended Stanford University, where he earned his master's degree and later his Ph.D. in geology. Jim moved to Fort Collins in 1965 during the course of his marriage to Carol Fuson, with whom he had a son, Patterson, and a daughter, Shelley. He joined the Earth Resources faculty at Colorado State University, where he spent three decades sharing his passion for geology with students, many of whom fondly remember Jim's unique habit of writing a quote of wisdom on the board before each class. In parallel to his teaching career, Jim founded a consulting company, Geologic Resources Investigations and Development, and perfected the Flexifrac well-stimulation technique, which brought relief to many mountain homeowners and even to entire villages in West Africa suffering from underproducing water wells. In 1977, Jim married JoAnne "Joey" Scott and welcomed her children, Michael and Anne, into the family. Jim and Joey shared their love for music as active members of the Larimer Chorale for many of their 28 years of marriage. Jim's other interests included travel, golf and long-term membership in the Fort Collins Sertoma Club. Jim is survived by his wife, two children, two stepchildren and his brother. He will be remembered for his devotion to the people and things he loved as well as his integrity and playful wit. A service celebrating Jim's life will be at 4 p.m. Sunday in the Canyon West Room at the Lincoln Center and is open to all those whose lives he touched. A private graveside service will be at Resthaven Memory Gardens Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations that will be earmarked for Hospice of Larimer County, Sertoma Club of Fort Collins or Parkinson's Disease research can be sent to Joey Waltz, in care of Bohlender Funeral Chapel, 121 W. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524.