James Donald Gribben

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James Gribben, age 92, passed away on the evening of 30 Oct at Heritage Ridge Assisted Living Bellevue, NE.  Jim was born on 26 Dec 1931 in Salina, KS. He grew up in Holly, CO and was raised from the age of 12 by his Aunt Bessie and Uncle Louis.  He graduated from high school at Lamar, CO in 1951 and from there joined the US Navy.  While in the Navy he served during the Korean Conflict on the tanker/supply ships USS Diphda and USS Ashtabula in the seas off Korea. He also served at the US Naval base at Pearl Harbor, HI.  

     Upon completing his service with the Navy, Jim returned to Colorado to attend college at Adams State College in Alamosa. At school he met Wilma Stevens and they were married on 18 Aug 1956.  Jim and Wilma had five children—Terry, Sharon, Tim, Kathy and Daniel.

     Jim was a career teacher, school administrator and coach.  He taught/coached in schools in Colorado to include Hoehne, La Veta, Fleming, Craig, Otis and Holyoke.  His coaching career saw him lead teams to State playoffs in football at La Veta, Fleming and Otis and to State tournament in basketball at Fleming. 

     Jim and his family moved to Holyoke in 1969 where he served as K-8 principal for 8 years then as 5th grade teacher and coach for junior high girls basketball, volleyball and track as well as 2 years high school volleyball.  He retired from teaching in 1995 but served 3 more years as Holyoke schools athletic director and teaching drivers education.  

     Jim spent the last 3 years at an assisted living facility in Grant, NE then most recently at assisted care in Bellevue, NE.

     Jim is preceded in death by his parents James and Irene, brothers Kenny and Tom, sisters Betty and Nancy, wife Wilma Gribben and 2 sons Daniel and Tim Gribben and son in law Mike Mays. He is survived by sister Charlene and brother Bob. His children Mark and wife Doris of Tallahassee FL ,Terry and wife Kathryn Gribben of Bellevue NE, Sharon and husband Larry Bernard of Holyoke,  and Kathy Mays of Aurora,CO. He also has ten grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.

Recitation of The Rosary – November 7, 2024 at 7:00 P.M. at the St. Patrick Catholic Church in Holyoke, Colorado. 

Funeral Service – November 8, 2024 at 10:00 A.M. at the Phillips County Event Center in Holyoke, Colorado.  Interment followed at the Holyoke Cemetery in Holyoke, Colorado and Father Jerry Rohr officiated the service.  Baucke Funeral Home of Holyoke was in charge of the arrangements. 

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