James Frederick Erdman was born March 21, 1964 in Durango, Colorado to James Allen Erdman and Margaret (Mardi) Ann Erdman (Bredemeier). He died on April 24, 2019 in his apartment in Golden, Colorado with his beloved cat, Boo, beside him.
James died of natural causes—organ failure due to the effects of his life-long struggle with alcoholism. James would move a mountain for a complete stranger. He’d give his last penny to a beggar. He loved animals and nature and cherished his family and friends. He loved deeply. He found people and things immensely interesting and was just as at home hollering a cheerful, “How are ya?” as he was, applying his curiosity and skill to figuring out a plumbing problem. This endeared him to those around him.
Early on, James worked cattle ranches in western Colorado and eastern Utah, wrangled horses, and led trail rides along Spraddle Creek Ranch in Vail, Colorado. He worked for propane companies along the Front Range, in maintenance for Gilpin County, and most recently for Coors Tech, in Golden, Colorado.
James is preceded in death by his mother and father, and is survived by his brother Chris (married to Patty), ex-wife Karen, son Jake (married to Katie), daughter Kasey (married to Jordan) and grandchildren, Mason, Jordyn, Jade and Ellen. A private memorial service is planned.
(Originally published in the May 9, 2019, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)
