James Ira French (65) passed away at his home January 9th in Casper, Wyoming after a long courageous battle with cancer. He was born June 24, 1947 to Leslie and Dorothy French. He grew up on a farm west of Bonilla, South Dakota attending school there for 11 years. He graduated from Hitchcock High School in 1965.
He began working for the Bureau of Reclamation on November 15, 1965 in Bismark, North Dakota. He remained with the Bureau until he retired January 2, 2004. During his years of service he received many awards, one being the 1985 Area Civil Servant of the Year Award.
He married Kathleen Lee Ahlstrom on June 27, 1965. Three children came from this union, Lisa, Jeff and Amy. They divorced in 1992. On September 4, 1993 he married Bonnie Lynn Herrick in Las Vegas, Nevada. They eventually moved to Stephensville, Texas. Bonnie passed away March 16, 2012.
Jim enjoyed a lifetime coin collecting beginning at the age of 10. He also enjoyed metal detecting and hunting for and collecting antique bottles. Jim was a lifelong Denver Broncos fan.
Jim is survived by 3 children, Lisa Marie Sexton (Todd), Jeffrey James French (Kimberly), Amy Jo Helfrick (Daniel), 2 stepchildren Jerry Young (Shantelle) and Michael Young Jr. and 10 grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, January 12, 2013 at Church of Christ, 2344 East 2nd St. Casper, Wyoming. Interment will follow at Highland Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, January 11, 2013 from 5p.m. to 7p.m. at Newcomer Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to the Wyoming Foundation for Cancer Care, Attn: Meaghan, 6501 East 2nd St. Casper, WY 82609
To share a memory of James or to leave a special message of condolence for his family, please visit the guestbook below.